Washington, Jan 22 : A Washington based think tank on Monday reported that the North Korean military has as many as 20 secretive, undeclared missile bases.The researchers also claim that one base which was recently discovered, focuses on medium-range ballistic missile operations.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington base think tank in its report said that ‘Sino-ri’ is one of the oldest of approximately 20 undeclared missile operating bases. It is an operational missile base that houses a regiment-sized unit equipped with Nodong-1 medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM).
The base is located 77 kilometers from northwest of Pyongyang, 212 kilometers north of the demilitarized zone and 270 kilometers northwest of Seoul.
It is often referred as a simple missile operating base but has fulfilled broader missions as both an operational test, development facility and training facility subordinate to the Strategic Force which is responsible for all ballistic missile units of the Korean People’s Army (KPA).
The Sobaek-su Academy and Myodu-san training area are located around 7.5 kilometers from northwest of the Sino-ri missile operating base. They share different responsibilities as well, like -Sino-ri for ballistic missile operations and development, Sobaek-su for higher education of Strategic Force personnel, and Myodu-san for ballistic missile training.
The report also says that the base may have played crucial role in the development of the newest Pukkuksong-2 (KN-15) ballistic missile which was first tested or unveiled on February 12, 2017.
The base has never been declared by North Korea. It also does not appear to be the subject of denuclearization negotiations between the United States and North Korea.
The Sino-ri missile operating base and the Nodong missiles based here fit into North Korea’s presumed offensive ballistic missile strategy by providing an operational-level first strike capability against targets located both throughout the Korean Peninsula and in most of Japan.
