A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.

Commercial satellite imagery from August 3 indicates additional dismantlement activities are ongoing at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station since last observed. At the vertical engine test stand, used for testing and development of engines for ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles, the North Koreans have continued to tear down the steel base structure and appear to be removing fuel and oxidizer tanks from dismantled bunkers.

At the launch pad, work on the rail-mounted processing/transfer structure used to support rocket launches continues, with two-thirds of the west wall and a third of the north wall having been removed, and its components remain on the adjacent ground. While the launch pad activity seems to be related to dismantlement, as it stands right now, we cannot rule out the possibility that it could be the beginning of a project to modify the structure for other purposes.

While dismantlement of the vertical engine test stand represents a fulfillment of Chairman Kim’s agreement with President Trump conveyed publicly during the post-Singapore Summit press conference, activity at the launch pad appears to go beyond that commitment. These activities, however, must be viewed cautiously as “first steps” since neither are presently permanent or irreversible. The demolition of the test stand’s concrete foundations, launch pad’s gantry tower, pad foundation and exhaust deflector, etc., would represent more permanent and irreversible actions as there is no known facility with equivalent capabilities elsewhere in the country.[1] The coming months should provide more firm indications whether these are indeed the “first steps” in reducing the North Korean ballistic missile threat.

Vertical Engine Test Stand

Commercial satellite imagery of the vertical engine test stand from August 3 indicates some minor additional dismantling of the steel base structure has occurred. The presence of steel components from the test stand are lined up on the concrete approach pad and approximately seven vehicles and trailers are present. Some of the latter have what appear to be cylindrical tanks—presumably from the dismantled fuel/oxidizer bunkers—on them. No additional dismantling of the fuel/oxidizer bunkers is apparent. Additionally, vegetation has started to fill in the previously barren blast area.

Figure 1. North Korea continues to dismantle the vertical engine test stand at Sohae.

Launch Pad

At the launch pad, minor additional work has been undertaken on the rail-mounted processing/transfer structure. Two-thirds of the west wall and a third of the north wall have been removed, as has a small panel in the south wall. A number of removed components remain on the ground adjacent to the structure and additional movement of vehicles and material is apparent. Materials are stacked near the underground rail transfer point and the construction crane previously seen here is no longer present. No significant activity is observed at the adjacent fuel/oxidizer bunkers, main processing building, gantry tower or underground rail transfer point.

While the launch pad activity seems to be related to dismantlement, as it stands right now, we cannot rule out the possibility that it could be the beginning of a project to modify the structure for other purposes.

Figure 2. Work continues on the rail-mounted processing/transfer structure at the launch pad.

Administrative and Security Headquarters

At the administrative and security headquarters facility, there are at least ten vehicles observed, including construction vehicles and trailers. Previously, on July 20 there were none and on July 22 there were five, suggesting an increasing level of overall activity at the facility.

Figure 3. An increasing number of vehicles are observed at the administrative and security headquarters.