...hereditary Communist monarchy distinguished by its truculence and periodic acts of violence. Distinguishing features include Songun (Army First) policy, which involves feeding the army before anyone but the Dear Leadership, and Juche, which is Kim Jong Il's personal interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, which he told everybody was brilliant. In 1950 the industrialized North invaded agrarian South Korea. Twenty-one countries of the United Nations eventually contributed to the UN force opposing the invasion, with the United States providing around 90% of the military personnel. Seventy years later the economic results are in and it doesn't look good for Juche...that could store weapons capable of striking the United States, a think tank has warned.
The Hoejung-ni missile operating base in the north-eastern province of Hwapyong boasts underground bunkers and powerful weapons capable of mounting nuclear warheads, reports the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
There are also two huge shelters used for the arming and fuelling of weapons, known as 'missile checkout facilities', while trees, bushes and other vegetation covers much of the entrances to the base.
'The Hoejung-ni missile operating base will, according to informed sources, likely house a regiment-sized unit equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM),' the CSIS warns.
'Each... shelter measures approximately 35 metres (114ft) long, has a 25-metre (82ft) opening at each end, and is covered with soil and rocks with vegetation planted on top,' the report adds.
The new base, which has also raised alarm bells due to its close proximity to the Chinese border, has sparked the interest of international observers and US intelligence.
Security sources estimate that construction at Hoejung-ni first began more than two decades ago, and is among 20 or so bases which have never been publicly acknowledged by Kim
PudgeJong-un
...the overweight, pouty-looking hereditary potentate of North Korea. Pudge appears to believe in his own divinity, but has yet to produce any loaves and fishes, so his subjects remain malnourished...
's administration.
The new unit contains a reinforced underground bunker that is at least 1,200ft long, while also being able to accommodate ballistic missiles known to be used by Pyonygang.