New pier completed at N. Korean rocket launch site
PYONGYANG : Satellite imagery indicates that a new maritime pier has been completed at North Korea's key rocket station, where the latest spy satellite launches and other rocket tests have been conducted, satellite operator ICEYE said.
The pier at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station seen via the imagery 'enables transport of larger rocket components than previously possible via rail', ICEYE said in findings provided to Reuters.
Larger components would allow the site to host rockets that can travel longer distances.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2022 inspected the Sohae facility and ordered it to be modernised and expanded to ensure that various rockets, including those capable of carrying military spy satellites, could be launched, state media said.
The facility has been used to put a satellite in orbit and also to test various missile components including rocket engines and space launch vehicles that South Korean and US officials say require similar technology to that used in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
An image from July 9 also shows the pier with a newly constructed jetty and vessels indicating potential operational status, according to ICEYE, a sign that could help enhance Sohae's logistical capabilities.
ICEYE added that it took about 28 months from initial reports to develop and complete the pier.
Work to expand the road and rail infrastructure throughout the facility continues, according to 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea monitoring programme.
Satellite images, taken from December to July by the commercial satellite firm Planet Labs, also show what appears to be a pier under construction on the shore.
Pyongyang's latest attempt to launch a military spy satellite at the Sohae site failed in May 2024 but Kim has vowed to never give up the space reconnaissance project that he views as crucial for national self defence against enemy threats.
North Korea successfully placed its first spy satellite in orbit in November 2023.
As part of growing military ties with Moscow, North Korea is likely getting help from Russia on its satellite programme in exchange for sending troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, South Korean officials have said.
North Korea says its military activities, including nuclear weapons, are its sovereign right and only for self-defence.
It accused the US and its allies of threatening it with 'hostile policies' such as military drills and sanctions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Greeks mourn, Turks celebrate anniversary of invasion splitting Cyprus
A woman walks next to the graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus at the Tymvos Makedonitissas military cemetery in Nicosia, Cyprus July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou NICOSIA (Reuters) -Greek and Turkish Cypriots on Sunday marked the 51st anniversary of Turkey's 1974 invasion of Cyprus, an event that split the island and continues to shape geopolitics in the region. Air raid sirens wailed across the southern Greek Cypriot populated parts of Cyprus at 0530 local time (0230 GMT), the hour Turkish troops landed on the northern coast in a military intervention triggered by a brief Greece-inspired coup. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was due to attend celebrations in north Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides attended a memorial service in the south for people who died. Efforts to reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation have repeatedly failed amid deep-rooted mistrust and competing visions for the island's future. The simmering conflict is a source of tension between NATO partners Greece and Turkey and complicates Turkey's ambitions to foster closer ties with the European Union, of which both Cyprus and Greece are members. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday the two sides would continue discussions on trust-building measures. "There is a long road ahead," he said. (Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Trump revives India-Pakistan conflict claims over jet losses
US President Donald Trump said up to five jets were shot down during recent India-Pakistan hostilities that began after an April attack in India-administered Kashmir, with the situation calming after a ceasefire in May. Trump, who made his remarks at a Friday dinner with some Republican US lawmakers at the White House, did not specify which side's jets he was referring to. 'In fact, planes were being shot out of the air. Five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down actually,' Trump said while talking about the India-Pakistan hostilities, without elaborating or providing further detail. Pakistan claimed it downed five Indian planes in air-to-air combat. India's highest-ranking general said in late May that India switched tactics after suffering losses in the air on the first day of hostilities and established an advantage before a ceasefire was announced three days later. India also claimed it downed 'a few planes' of Pakistan. Islamabad denied suffering any losses of planes but acknowledged its air bases suffered hits. Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for the ceasefire that he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington held talks with both sides. India has differed with Trump's claims that it resulted from his intervention and his threats to sever trade talks. India's position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their problems directly and with no outside involvement. India is an increasingly important US partner in Washington's effort to counter China's influence in Asia, while Pakistan is a US ally. The April attack in India-administered Kashmir killed 26 men and sparked heavy fighting between the nuclear-armed Asian neighbours in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan, which denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Washington condemned the attack but did not directly blame Islamabad. — Reuters
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Unfinished US water projects leave global communities at risk
TAVETA: The abrupt termination of U.S. foreign aid has left critical water and sanitation projects incomplete across 16 countries, endangering millions who relied on them for clean water and flood protection. Reuters uncovered 21 abandoned initiatives, with workers forced to leave behind half-dug canals, unsecured materials, and unfinished infrastructure. In Mali, water towers meant for schools and clinics stand deserted. Nepal halted over 100 drinking water systems, leaving communities with unused cement and pipes. Lebanon's solar-powered water utility project was scrapped, forcing reliance on costly diesel. Kenya's Taita Taveta County faces heightened flood risks as incomplete irrigation canals threaten farms. Mary Kibachia, a 74-year-old farmer, said, 'I have no protection from the flooding that the canal will now cause, the floods will definitely get worse.' The Trump administration defended the cuts, arguing funds should prioritize Americans. However, bipartisan support previously backed these projects, including a 2014 law that doubled water infrastructure funding. Experts warn the cuts could reverse decades of progress, increasing disease, school dropouts, and extremist recruitment. John Oldfield, a water infrastructure advocate, said, 'Do we want girls carrying water on their heads for their families? Or do you want them carrying school books?' The U.S. State Department, now overseeing aid, has not commented on the halted projects. While Jordan's desalination plant funding was restored, programs in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Congo remain stalled. In eastern Congo, defunct water kiosks have become playgrounds. Evelyne Mbaswa, a mother of nine, lost her son while fetching water—a perilous task in conflict zones. 'When we send young girls, they are raped, young boys are kidnapped.... All this is because of the lack of water,' she said. Kenya's $100 million USAID project was only 15% complete when halted, leaving hazardous trenches and $100,000 in materials exposed. A U.S. embassy memo warned unfinished work could damage America's reputation and fuel extremism. In Taita Taveta, incomplete canal walls risk collapse during rains. Community leader Juma Kubo said, 'Without plaster, the walls will collapse in heavy rain, and the flow of water will lead to the destruction of farms.' Locals now seek $526,000 to salvage the project. For Kibachia, delays are dire. After her home flooded, she said, 'Where can I go? This is home.' - Reuters
