Secret satellite photos expose North Korea's growing missile factory
New satellite pictures show big changes at North Koreas key weapons plant - with fresh buildings popping up since last fall. This factory makes specific missiles that keep showing up in global hot-spots
In North-Koreas second-biggest city a weapons factory is getting way bigger: US think-tank experts found big changes at the place where short-range missiles are put together
The factory (known as February 11 plant) sits in Hamhung city and makes specific missiles that got attention lately. Sam Lair from the James Martin Center says its the only place making Hwasong-11 solid-fuel missiles; these are the same ones Ukraine says Russia uses against them
- New assembly building thats 60-70% as big as the old one
- Fresh housing for workers
- Better access to underground parts
- Removed old bridge crane that was blocking a tunnel
Last year Kim Jong Un checked out the place where workers were making missile parts: tail-kits and nose-cones for these weapons. The factory makes other stuff too - from tank parts to rocket bits
The missiles are special because they fly low to dodge defenses; Russia might want them cause their own missile stocks are getting low. Both Moscow and Pyongyang dont admit trading weapons even though they signed a deal about two years ago
Recent pics show lots of building stuff and train cars full of materials at the site. Near the main plant theres another place called February 8 Complex thats probably making rocket fuel too. More than 10k North Korean soldiers are now in Russias Kursk area - some already fighting in Ukraine (though Russia hasnt said yes or no about this
