Report says North Korea built undeclared ICBM base near China border
The 'undeclared' Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base, located about 27 kilometers (17 miles) from the Chinese frontier, likely contains six to nine nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and their launchers, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in its report.
CSIS said the weapons 'pose a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the continental United States.' The base is one of an estimated 15 to 20 ballistic missile facilities that North Korea has never officially declared, and it has not previously been part of denuclearization negotiations with the United States.
The report said missiles and launchers could leave the site in a crisis to conduct harder-to-detect launches elsewhere in the country. It described the facility as a key element of Pyongyang's evolving nuclear strategy and expanding strike capabilities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a 'rapid expansion' of his nation's nuclear arsenal since a failed 2019 summit with the US. Pyongyang has since declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear state and strengthened ties with Russia, reportedly sending troops and weapons to support Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Washington has accused Russia of providing advanced space and satellite technology in exchange for North Korean military support. Analysts note that satellite launchers and ICBMs rely on similar technology.
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