Undeclared North Korea: Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base

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As featured in the Wall Avenue Journal “North Korea Has a Secret Long-Range Missile Base Near Chinese Border, Report Says” on August 20, 2025.

<img decoding="async" width="2560" height="1548" data-attachment-id="7652" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_01_v3/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1548" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_01_v3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-750x454.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7652" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-750x454.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-1536x929.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-2048x1239.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-640x387.png 640w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> Overview of the Sinpung-dong missile working base, July 11, 2025. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org .

Key Findings

Image maps are specifically produced geographic reference maps which make the most of satellite tv for pc imagery and Past Parallel’s imagery evaluation of North Korea. Click on to entry the picture map of the Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base .

Positioned roughly 27 kilometers from the China-North Korean border, the Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base is an undeclared ballistic missile working base in North Pyongan Province. The bottom is certainly one of North Korea’s roughly 15-20 ballistic missile bases , upkeep, assist, missile storage, and warhead storage services which North Korea has by no means declared. That is the primary in-depth open-source examine confirming the bottom.

Preliminary evaluation means that the bottom possible homes a brigade-sized unit outfitted with a complete of 6-9 nuclear succesful Hwasong-15 or -18 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), or an as but unknown ICBM, and their transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) or mobile-erector-launchers (MEL). These missiles pose a possible nuclear risk to East Asia and the continental United States.

Present assessments are that in instances of disaster or struggle, these launchers and missiles will exit the bottom, meet particular warhead storage/transportation items, and conduct launch operations from dispersed pre-surveyed websites.

The Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base and the opposite missile bases inside North Korea’s strategic ballistic missile belt (together with different undeclared bases just like the Hoejung-ni , Sangnam-ni and Yongnim Missile Working Bases) characterize the first elements of what's presumed to be North Korea’s evolving ballistic missile technique, and its increasing strategic-level nuclear deterrence and strike capabilities.

The Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base just isn't recognized to have been the topic of any denuclearization negotiations beforehand carried out between the US and North Korea.

Overview

The Sinpung-dong (신풍동) Ballistic Missile Working Base is positioned (40.316252 125.276505) in Taegwan-gun (대관군, Taegwan County), Pyongan-bukto (평안북도, North Pyongan Province), roughly 12 kilometers northeast of town of Taegwan.

The bottom is 27 kilometers from the border with China, roughly 146 kilometers north-northwest of Pyongyang, and 340 kilometers northwest of Seoul. All satellite tv for pc imagery from 2003 onwards signifies that the bottom is energetic and being well-maintained by North Korean requirements. Considerably, this imagery additionally reveals that the bottom has continued to be developed.

<img decoding="async" width="2560" height="1548" data-attachment-id="7652" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_01_v3/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1548" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_01_v3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-750x454.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7652" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-750x454.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-1536x929.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-2048x1239.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_01_v3-640x387.png 640w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> Overview of the Sinpung-dong missile working base, July 11, 2025. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org .

Sinpung-dong is a part of North Korea’s strategic (or rear) missile belt, together with the missile working bases at Hoejung-ni, Sangnam-ni , Yongjo-ri, and Yongnim . This missile belt is one element of a widely-dispersed nationwide hardened ballistic missile community subordinate to the roughly 10,000-person robust Strategic Power Strategic Power—the Korean Individuals’s Military (KPA) group chargeable for all North Korea’s 15-20 undeclared ballistic missile bases, maintenance, support, missile storage, and warhead storage facilities .

The Sinpung-dong base and the opposite missile bases throughout the strategic ballistic missile belt characterize the first elements of what's presumed to be North Korea’s evolving ballistic missile technique, and its increasing strategic-level nuclear deterrence and strike capabilities. Taken collectively, the ballistic missiles deployed throughout the strategic belt pose a possible nuclear risk to East Asia and the continental United States.

Development of the bottom started someday round 2004 and was typically full and operational by 2014. As with the opposite missile working bases throughout the strategic ballistic missile belt, it's believed to have been constructed utilizing specialised engineering troops from the KPA’s Army Development Bureau. 1 This ten-year building timeline, when taken in context with the development of the opposite strategic ballistic missile belt’s missile bases, suggests a substantial degree of North Korean developmental planning that's hardly ever appreciated outdoors the Korean Peninsula. There may be an excellent likelihood that ongoing enhancements since 2014 are associated to a mix of ongoing IRBM and ICBM developments, basing necessities, and organizational developments.

North Korea just isn't recognized to have made any particular public references to the existence of the Sinpung-dong base or the KPA unit primarily based right here. Moreover, neither of their nationwide designators is thought. 2 As such, the provisional title of Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base is derived from its location adjoining to the village of Sinpung-dong. Media stories through the years referring to a missile base at Changsong-gun, Paegun-dong, Paegun-tong, Paekun-dong, Sakju-gun (the county adjoining to Taegwan-gub), Sakju-up, Taegwan-gun, or Taegwan-up are most probably referring to the Sinpung-dong base. 3

Though the main points in regards to the exact mannequin of ballistic missile deployed on the Sinpung-dong base haven't been confirmed, it's believed that the unit primarily based right here is supplied with nuclear succesful Hwasong-15, -18, or an as but unknown intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), their transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) or mobile-erector-launchers (MEL), and numerous assist autos on the base. Throughout instances of disaster or struggle, these launchers and missiles will exit the bottom, meet particular warhead storage/transportation items, and conduct launch operations from dispersed pre-surveyed websites. 4 If the 2 distinctive giant earth-bermed assist buildings recognized throughout the base function emergency launch websites, then warhead storage and upkeep items of necessity would ship warheads to the launchers on the base earlier than returning to their very own base.

Base Group

The Sinpung-dong (신풍동) Ballistic Missile Working Base is positioned (40.316252 125.276505) in Taegwan-gun (대관군, Taegwan County), Pyongan-bukto (평안북도, North Pyongan Province), roughly 12 kilometers northeast of town of Taegwan.

It's located inside an remoted slender mountain valley that runs typically southwest to northeast on the southern slopes of Pugo-san (부거산, Pugo Mountain) and is bisected by a stream. Your entire base is estimated to embody roughly 22 sq. kilometers. As of July 2025, the bottom may be functionally divided into six common actions:

entrance checkpoints

headquarters and administration (together with barracks, civilian housing, and car upkeep)

warehouses areas

hardened drive-through missile checkout services (typically known as missile assist services)

giant underground facility

quite a lot of dispersed small housing and assist buildings

The general format and design of the Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base is akin to that of the Yongnim Missile Operating Base , as it's also dispersed inside an remoted slender wooded mountain valley with department valleys. The primary valley, starting on the agricultural village of Sinpung-dong (신풍동), extends roughly 4.8 kilometers from southwest to northeast and contains a stream that meanders alongside its middle. To assist motion throughout the stream all through the bottom, three 5 to 7-meter-wide strengthened concrete deck bridges and a 6-meter-wide ford have been constructed between 2018 and 2021. 4 smaller valleys department eastward from the primary valley.

Satellite tv for pc photographs from 1984 and 1995 present that the valley wherein the bottom will later be constructed consisted of small agricultural and logging actions (typically transitory), dispersed alongside the size of the primary valley and on the adjoining slopes. As may be presently decided, building of the bottom started someday round 2005 and 2006, with two checkpoints positioned on the foot of the primary valley at Sinpung-dong. 5

<img decoding="async" width="2560" height="1545" data-attachment-id="7653" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_02_v3/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1545" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_02_v3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-750x453.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7653" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-750x453.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-1536x927.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-2048x1236.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_02_v3-640x386.png 640w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> Satellite tv for pc picture of the realm wherein the Sinpung-dong missile working base shall be constructed, September 26, 1984. CIA, Declassified KH-9 Picture.

Entrance Checkpoints and Distant Compounds

The entrances and checkpoints of the missile base are positioned within the southwest nook of the perimeter. Together with the entrances and checkpoints, the bottom is surrounded by not less than seven distant compounds with small, cultivated fields. The positioning of those compounds means that they're more likely to serve some safety function. Apart from these compounds, quite a few small and infrequently transitory agricultural and forestry actions have been noticed through the years on the higher ends and on the decrease slopes of every of the valleys.

Click on to enlarge. Left: Checkpoints at entrance to the Sinpung-dong missile working base, February 20, 2025. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Proper: One of many small distant agricultural or logging compounds positioned round and above the perimeter of the bottom that possible additionally serve some safety objective, October 4, 2024. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org .

The Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base is located inside a valley and the 4 smaller valleys that department from the primary valley. To ease readability on this report, the smaller department valleys of the bottom are merely recognized as department #1 to #4, operating from southwest to northeast.

The primary entrance checkpoint leads roughly 4.8 kilometers northeast up the primary valley. The second checkpoint leads roughly 1.7 kilometers east up department valley #1. Transferring up the primary valley, the primary checkpoint leads by means of housing for senior officers and dependents, a warehouse space, motorized vehicle upkeep and storage services, agricultural assist areas (together with giant greenhouses), the doorway to department valley #2, and on to the headquarters and administration space at Wonha-ri. Roughly 86 senior officer housing buildings have been constructed between 2014 and 2017 as additions to the unique 16 agricultural housing buildings. The unique motorized vehicle upkeep and warehouse facility was constructed between 2006 and 2011 throughout a number of current small agricultural warehouses.

Headquarters and Administration Space

Positioned roughly 1.7 kilometers up the first valley is the headquarters and administration space (40.316236 125.276576). This space is analogous in measurement and format to these discovered at different missile working bases. Development started round 2004 and was accomplished by 2007. This space primarily consists of eight giant buildings, together with a cultural training corridor (added between 2018 and 2019), headquarters, barracks, a second, however smaller, motorized vehicle storage facility, and two formal round gardens. 6 The buildings are organized round a central parade floor or soccer pitch and a small memorial plaza. Since 2019, solely minor modifications have been noticed right here, together with the growth of the motorized vehicle upkeep and storage facility, the development of a second smaller motorized vehicle storage facility, and the development of a number of small buildings.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1544" data-attachment-id="7607" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_05/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1544" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_05" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-750x452.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7607" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-750x452.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-1536x927.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-2048x1235.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_05-640x386.png 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> The headquarters and administration space at Wonha-ri, Might 31, 2022. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org .

Hardened Drive-By means of Missile Checkout Services

Continuing northeast from the headquarters space, there are extra barracks compounds, agricultural assist areas, and the doorway to department valley #3. Transferring additional northeast, there are not less than two extra barracks areas, agricultural assist areas, and the doorway to department valley #4. Positioned at this entrance are the bottom’s two hardened drive-through missile checkout services (40.327571 125.297224 and 30.328032 125.298187) that have been constructed on the east aspect of the valley between 2011 and 2014. These are used for missile arming, fueling, programs checkout, and upkeep operations.

Every checkout facility consists of a giant, concrete-reinforced shelter lower into the aspect of the adjoining mountain, measuring roughly 35 meters by 17 meters, and is roofed with soil and rocks, with vegetation planted on prime. The size and measurement of the openings are of enough measurement to accommodate all recognized and sure deliberate KPA ballistic missile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs), mobile-erector-launchers (MELs), transporter-erectors (TEs), and missile assist autos and tools. As at different ballistic missile working bases, North Korea has planted bushes and bushes over the entrances to those hardened services to hide them. The maturing vegetation makes it more and more difficult to find them utilizing business satellite tv for pc imagery besides in winter months, when vegetation is sparse.

Left: The bottom’s two hardened drive-through missile checkout services underneath building, December 5, 2014. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Proper: The bottom’s two accomplished hardened drive-through missile checkout services, October 4, 2024. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Vegetation has coated the services making them troublesome to find and establish. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

Underground Facility (UGF)

The primary valley continues northeast from the hardened drive-through missile checkout services and entrance to department valley #4. The 2 entrances to the bottom’s UGF are positioned right here: one on the northern finish of the primary valley (40.330859 125.299040) and the opposite inside department valley #4 (40.328936 125.300770).

The development of the UGF entrances on the Sinpung-dong base is exclusive in comparison with that of different ballistic missile working bases. To accommodate each the steep terrain and mountain streams that seasonally flood, the 2 UGF entrances have been constructed roughly 20 to 40 meters above the streams. This necessitated the usage of terraced building, that includes giant ramps—possible using a lot of the rock and gravel tailings excavated from the UGF—main as much as the entrances, with water tunnels beneath them to permit the stream to movement.

The openings for each entrances are roughly 5.5 meters extensive, and, just like the hardened drive-through services, can accommodate all recognized and sure deliberate launchers, missile assist autos, and tools. In contrast to UGF entrances at different North Korean missile working bases, there are not any giant rocks and soil protecting berms to assist shield them from assault.

No important adjustments have been noticed in satellite tv for pc imagery from 2014 to the current at both of the UGF entrances. Nevertheless, much like the bottom’s two hardened drive-through services, the expansion of vegetation across the entrances has made it more and more difficult to find them utilizing business satellite tv for pc imagery.

The UGF itself was constructed between 2006 and 2014, and the straight-line distance between the 2 entrances is roughly 258 meters. Nevertheless, given what is thought regarding giant North Korean UGF building, it's possible that the UGF is significantly longer and incorporates a number of aspect galleries. Though extra small underground services or bunkers on the Sinpung-dong base are additionally possible, none have been reliably confirmed so far.

Left: Overview of the entrances to the bottom’s underground facility underneath building, December 22, 2011. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Proper: A newer overview of the entrances to the bottom’s accomplished underground facility, October 4, 2024. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Vegetation has coated the entrances, making them troublesome to find and establish. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

Left: The northern entrance to the bottom’s underground facility underneath building, December 5, 2014. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Proper: A newer view of the finished northern entrance to the bottom’s underground facility, October 4, 2024. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Vegetation has coated the doorway, making it troublesome to find and establish. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org .

Left: The southern entrance to the bottom’s underground facility underneath building, December 5, 2014. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Proper: A newer view of the finished southern entrance to the bottom’s underground facility, October 4, 2024. Copyright © 2025 by Planet. Vegetation has coated the doorway, making it troublesome to find and establish. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

Drive-By means of Bunkers

Again on the two checkpoints on the foot of the primary valley, the second checkpoint leads east to department valley #1. This roughly 2-kilometer-long valley consists of one other small headquarters space, barracks, and assist buildings. Notably, the valley additionally options three slender bunkers on its south aspect. These seem like 40 to 55-meter-long Sort 500 bunkers which are sometimes used to accommodate autos of assorted varieties. 7 Collectively, these components within the department valley possible assist a battalion-sized armor, mechanized, or motorized unit of unknown sort. As a result of these bunkers and the headquarters space seem in photographs taken earlier than the development of the bottom, the unit housed right here might not have initially been supposed to be part of the deliberate missile base.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1545" data-attachment-id="7616" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_14/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1545" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_14" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-750x453.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7616" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-750x453.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-1536x927.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-2048x1236.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_14-640x386.png 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> Two of the three drive-through bunkers in Department Valley No. 1, December 22, 2011. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

Supported Constructions

Roughly 600 meters up from the checkpoint on the foot of the primary valley is the doorway to department valley #2, which extends roughly 1.5 kilometers to the east. With one exception, this valley is devoted to a small variety of agricultural assist and logging actions. Nevertheless, the one exception is notable. An roughly 24-meter-by-7-meter open earth-bermed assist construction is positioned roughly 650 meters up the department valley on its north aspect (40.308947 125.278393). Constructed someday between 2013 and 2014, that is certainly one of two such buildings positioned throughout the Sinpung-dong missile working base.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1545" data-attachment-id="7617" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_15/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1545" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_15" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-750x453.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7617" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-750x453.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-1536x927.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-2048x1236.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_15-640x386.png 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

Roughly 2.3 kilometers up from the checkpoint on the foot of the primary valley and 1.7 kilometers from the doorway to department valley #2 is the doorway to department valley #3. This department valley extends roughly 1.5 kilometers to the east. It incorporates two barracks areas, a number of assist areas, and the second of two open earth-bermed assist buildings.

About 575 meters up the department valley, close to the village of Kahyon-dong, there are the stays of a 31-meter-by-9-meter constructing that was current from about 2014 to 2019 and will have been used for launcher upkeep, restore, or coaching—satellite tv for pc photographs of the Sinpung-dong base don't present any specialised drive-through upkeep and coaching constructing with arched clearstory as seen at different areas such because the Kal-gol Ballistic Missile Operating Base .

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1545" data-attachment-id="7618" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_16/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1545" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_16" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-750x453.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7618" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-750x453.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-1536x927.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-2048x1236.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_16-640x386.png 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> A view of the bottom’s northern open earth-bermed assist construction, February 20, 2025. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

At about 1.2 kilometers up the department valley #3 is a 60-meter-long tall multi-roof assist constructing constructed in 2019, changing a soccer pitch. Lastly, the second of two open earth-bermed assist buildings throughout the Sinpung-dong missile working base is positioned (40.315029 125.310078) roughly 2.3 kilometers up the department valley. This construction is on the north aspect of the valley and measures roughly 27 meters by 7 meters. Constructed someday between 2013 and 2014, that is certainly one of two such buildings (see department valley #2 above).

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1545" data-attachment-id="7619" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/sinpungdong-missile-operating-base_17/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1545" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sinpungdong Missile Operating Base_17" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-300x181.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-750x453.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7619" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-300x181.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-750x453.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-1536x927.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-2048x1236.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sinpungdong-Missile-Operating-Base_17-640x386.png 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> A view of the 2 assist buildings within the Kahyon-dong space of department valley #3, February 20, 2025. Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

The exact objective of the 2 open earth-bermed assist buildings famous above is unknown. They're distinctive in that they share the identical building design (roughly the dimensions to assist a Hwasong-15 or -18 ICBM launcher) and are aligned at roughly 18° north; related buildings haven't been recognized at different missile working bases.

When the development of those assist buildings was first recognized, it was thought that they might be UGF entrances. We now know that this isn't the case, as recognized strategic UGF entrances are constructed in a different way, and no important waste is often produced through the excavation of a UGF. It was then thought that these might have been a North Korean try at producing coffin-style launch complexes like these utilized by some early U.S. Atlas D and E ICBMs through the Chilly Battle or, extra just lately, at Iranian missile bases close to Shiraz and Tehran. If this have been the intention, it might recommend North Korea’s want to develop a speedy response launch functionality for use throughout emergencies moderately than going through the danger of huge ICBM launchers being destroyed whereas deploying outdoors the bottom. Nonetheless, these buildings have remained unchanged since 2014. Finally, they might have merely been warehouse buildings that have been by no means accomplished.

Because of the strategic significance of North Korea’s ballistic missile working bases and issues of both pre-emptive or wartime air or cruise missile strikes towards them, most missile working bases have some degree of natural air protection capabilities. This doesn't seem like the case with the Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base. There are not any readily recognized fastened anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) positions inside 10 km of the bottom. Nevertheless, the bottom is throughout the nationwide air protection community, and there are 4 air protection artillery batteries and a SA-2 (S-75 Dvina) surface-to-air missile base inside 14 kilometers of the bottom. Regardless, the subcomponents of the missile unit primarily based at Sinpung-dong undoubtedly possess some natural air protection components, probably together with an air protection battalion, outfitted with each gentle AAA and shoulder-fired air protection missiles (e.g., SA-7, SA-14, SA-16, and so forth.). The closest Korean Individuals’s Air Power airbase is Panghyon Airbase , positioned 43 kilometers to the southwest, which operates an air regiment of classic MiG-17/19 fighters and ground-attack plane.

Order-of-Battle

There isn't a dependable data in regards to the group or measurement of the ballistic missile unit positioned on the Sinpung-dong Ballistic Missile Working Base. Preliminary evaluation is that the bottom homes a brigade-sized unit, primarily based on evaluation of the high-resolution satellite tv for pc photographs since 2003, mixed with interview information, open-source data, reported KPA ballistic missile organizations, and different recognized KPA unit organizational buildings. Utilizing this evaluation, the unit is probably going composed of three missile-firing battalions, with a complete of 6-9 Hwasong-15 or -18 ICBM TELs/MELs, together with numerous assist items. 8

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1487" data-attachment-id="7622" src="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/2025-hwasong-15-or-18-brigade_v2/" data-orig-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-scaled.png" data-orig-size="2560,1487" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2025 Hwasong-15 or -18 Brigade_v2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-300x174.png" data-large-file="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-750x436.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7622" srcset="https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-scaled.png 2560w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-300x174.png 300w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-750x436.png 750w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-1536x892.png 1536w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-2048x1190.png 2048w, https://beyondparallel.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Hwasong-15-or-18-Brigade_v2-640x372.png 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> Sinpung-dong Hwasong-15 or -18 ICBM Brigade (Postulated). Copyright © 2025 by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. Picture might not be republished with out permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org.

Analysis Notes

This report, like others within the sequence, attracts on Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.’s ongoing examine of North Korea’s ballistic missile infrastructure, begun in 1985. It's knowledgeable by interviews with defectors and officers worldwide, in addition to declassified paperwork and open supply data.

Accuracy in any open supply dialogue of North Korea’s nuclear, organic, chemical, or ballistic missile packages is all the time a problem. Whereas among the data used within the preparation of this examine might ultimately show to be incomplete or incorrect, it's hoped that it supplies a brand new and distinctive look into the topic. This examine goals to supply a contemporary perspective and replace earlier work by the authors on these matters.

Though 35 high- and medium-resolution satellite tv for pc photographs have been analyzed through the preparation of this report, the pictures finally introduced on this report have been purposely chosen for his or her detailed or historic view of the buildings and actions inside and across the Sinpung-dong missile working base.

Gazetteer of Named Locations

Title Coordinates Changto-ryong (장토령) 40.345278 125.313333 Kahyol-lyong (가현령) 40.316667 125.316667 Kahyon-dong (가현동) 40.316389 125.297778 Pugo-san (부거산) 40.340278 125.279722 Sinpung-dong (신풍동) 40.301111 125.268056 Wonha-ri (원하리) 40.315005 125.274800 Gained-ni (원리) 40.293611 125.253333 Wonpung-dong (원풍동) 40.30000 125.262500 Yodae-dong (여대동) 40.317222 125.261111 Yoha-ri (요하리) 40.321667 125.259722 Taegwan-gun (대관군) 40.207631 125.204750

Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. is a Senior Fellow for Imagery Evaluation with the iDeas Lab and Korea Chair on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research. Victor Cha is President of the Geopolitics and International Coverage Division and Korea Chair on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research. Jennifer Jun is an Affiliate Fellow and Venture Supervisor for Imagery Evaluation with the iDeas Lab and Korea Chair on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research. Headline picture Copyright © 2025 by Maxar. Particular because of Seungjun Yeo for markup and translation assist.

References Interview information acquired by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. A short description of the specialised engineering troops of the KPA’s Army Development Bureau may be present in Bermudez Jr., Joseph S. Protect of the Nice Chief: The Armed Forces of North Korea , (London: I.B. Taurus, 2001). ↩ All KPA items have official and canopy designations. The latter is what is usually seen being utilized in North Korea media. For instance, a fictional unit talked about in North Korean media might need a canopy designation of “KPA Unit 158,” nonetheless, its official designation is the “19 th Infantry Division.” Some items even have an honorific identify assigned to its official designation in recognition of some important accomplishment. Utilizing the earlier instance of the “KPA Unit 158” an honorific designation might be the “19 th Kusong Guard Infantry Division.” To make this case extra difficult it's not uncommon for a canopy designation to be randomly modified. Cowl designations are typically known as “navy unit cowl designation” (MUCD). ↩ The primary reference to the usage of the Sinpung-dong Missile Working Base designation recognized to the creator occurred through the 2010s within the creator’s conversations with protection and intelligence officers. It's unclear if a lone, and probably incorrect, reference to a missile base in Sakchu-gun, P’yŏnganbuk-do is referring to the Sinpung-dong Ballistic Missile Working Base as Sakchu-gun and Taegwan-gun are adjoining counties. ↩ Interview information acquired by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. ↩ As with many rural agricultural villages in North Korea the dimensions and configuration of Sinpung-dong has undergone adjustments through the years and solely cultivated fields and some small housing clusters from the unique village stay. The realm, nonetheless, continues to be recognized by this identify on up to date maps. Positioned instantly outdoors the bottom entrance is the small agricultural village of Wonpung-dong. Comparatively close by, but in addition outdoors the bottom, are the small agricultural villages Yoha-ri, Yidae-dong, Gained-ni, and Wonpung-dong. These villages and the small agricultural and logging actions inside or adjoining to the bottom undoubtedly present some degree of assist to the bottom. ↩ The cultural training corridor was added between 2018 and 2019 and a second however smaller motorized vehicle storage facility was constructed between 2019 and 2022. ↩ These bunkers are incessantly and erroneously recognized as “tank tunnels.” Whereas they often do home tanks, they're recognized to additionally home armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery, and so forth. ↩ The restricted obtainable data concerning the organizational buildings of KPA ballistic missile items signifies that these items might not correspond on to Western navy group fashions. Some stories describe KPA ballistic missile items as being bigger than a regiment however smaller than a brigade, or bigger than a battalion however smaller than a regiment. Complicated this additional, organizational phrases equivalent to regiment and brigade are typically used interchangeably for a similar unit. Occasionally, the phrases “department detachment,” “workplace,” “base,” or “division” have additionally been used to explain a missile unit’s measurement. Interview information acquired by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. ↩ Associated

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