North Korea has finished construction on a covert military base believed to significantly increase its potential nuclear threat to the United States and East Asia, according to a new report.
The Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) revealed this week that the facility—known as the Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base—could house between six to nine nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. The site, located in North Pyongan Province roughly 17 miles from the Chinese border, is also reportedly capable of accommodating thousands of troops.
“These missiles pose a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the continental United States,” the CSIS report stated. However, it added that North Korea’s Hwasong-15 and Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are not believed to be armed with nuclear warheads at this time.
The findings are based on satellite imagery, declassified documents, open-source material, interviews with defectors, and global intelligence sources.
According to the report, during a conflict or crisis, missiles from the base would likely be moved to pre-selected launch sites where they would meet with mobile warhead transport units before deployment.
The Sinpung-dong site is just one of an estimated 15 to 20 undeclared missile bases and related facilities hidden throughout North Korea.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates Pyongyang currently possesses around 50 assembled nuclear warheads and has enough fissile material to build roughly 40 more.