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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Norks Moved Long-Range Missile to New Site |
| 2009-06-03 |
| North Korea has moved a long-range missile from a launch site in Musudan-ri, North Hamgyong Province to a new missile testing site in Dongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province. There is a lot of speculation why what is believed to be a Taepodong-2 missile was moved. A South Korean government source on Monday said a train carrying the missile arrived in Dongchang-ri over the weekend from a research center in Pyongyang and the missile appears to have been placed in a large structure to be assembled. It is expected to be assembled over the next week or two before it is placed upright on the launch pad. South Korean intelligence are wondering why the missile is at the new test site, which has yet to be completed. One reason may be that the Dongchang-ri site is more advanced, thereby lowering the time and risk involved in launching a missile. The Dongchang-ri site is believed to be equipped with automated systems to track and control missiles and rockets, and to load them with liquid fuel. Also, the vertical launch pad is 40 m high, while the one in Musudan-ri is only 30 m, making it capable of launching long-range missiles or rockets carrying satellites. The source said another advantage may be that if the missile crosses North Korea on an eastward trajectory, it can travel a longer distance than if it was fired from Musudan-ri, while making it easier to track and gather data from radar and other facilities in the North. He added that North Korea could fire the missile southward along the West Sea. Until now, a missile and long-range rocket fired from Musudan-ri crossed Japan, triggering strong protests from the Japanese government. Tokyo threatened to intercept the rocket. Intelligence officials note that the Dongchang-ri site is only around 70 km away from the Yongbyon nuclear facility. North Korea has yet to develop a nuclear warhead that can be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile, but the proximity of Dongchang-ri to the Yongbyon nuclear facility would allow the North to transport a nuclear warhead to the missile site in less time than the old site. |
| Posted by:Steve White |