Undeclared North Korea: The Yusang-ni Missile Operating Base (Update since 2019)

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Undeclared North Korea: The Yusang-ni Missile Operating Base (Update since 2019)
By: Joseph Bermudez, Victor Chas & Jennifer Jun - 02-18-21
Re: https://beyondparallel.csis.org/unde...te-since-2019/

Topic: Ballistic Missiles & Military:

Key Findings:

* Commercial satellite imagery acquired on January 5, 2021 and February 7, 2021 indicate that the Yusang-ni missile base is operational and that minor development (i.e., construction, etc.) has continued since our last report from May 9, 2019.

* Located 150 kilometers north of the DMZ, the Yusang-ni missile operating base is an operational missile base that appears to house a brigade-size or larger unit—likely with support units. It is one of the more recently constructed Strategic Force missile operating bases.

* Imagery from October 13, 2020 shows approximately 13 truck trailers or shipping containers. Though the reason for the presence of these trailers or shipping containers is unknown, their positions within the facility at the time strongly suggest that they contained equipment or material for use within the underground facility (UGF).

* Imagery also indicates that a driver training course was added sometime between mid-2019 and late-2020. The strategic importance of driver training courses for training the majority of military recruits is especially true for ballistic missile units equipped with very large transporter-erector-launchers, mobile-erector-launchers or transporter-erectors and their associated equipment.

* The unit based at Yusang-ni has been variously reported to be equipped with the Hwasong-13, Hwasong-14 or Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). However, these reports must be viewed cautiously as operational status of these systems is unknown.

* The base is one of approximately 20 North Korean ballistic missile operating bases and support facilities identified by CSIS analysis and never declared by North Korea.

* Because of the inherent threat posed by North Korean ICBMs carrying nuclear warheads at the Yusang-ni missile operating base and other North Korean ballistic missile bases, it is essential that they be included in any future denuclearization agreements.

Our previous report located the Yusang-ni (유상리) missile operating base (39.449886 126.259682) within North Korea’s operational missile belt in Unsan-gun (Unsan County), Pyongan-namdo (South Pyongan Province), approximately 63 kilometers northeast of Pyongyang. The base is also 150 kilometers north of the demilitarized zone, 220 kilometers northeast of Seoul and 1,225 west-northwest of Tokyo. The Yusang-ni base is sometimes referred to as the Milchon-ni (밀천리) missile operating base for its proximity to the small village of the same name (39.483333 126.233333) approximately 4.5 kilometers to the north-northwest. Reports from 2016 indicate that the unit housed at the base was equipped with a version of the Hwasong-13 (KN-08) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).1 While subsequent reports from 2018 state that the unit was equipped with the Hwasong-14 (KN-20) or Hwasong-15 (KN-22) ICBMs.2

1st photo link with an overview of the Usan-ni-missile operating base (as of 02-07-21)
Re: https://i0.wp.com/beyondparallel.csi...s_01.jpg?ssl=1
Overview of the Yusang-ni missile operating base, February 7, 2021 (Copyright © CNES 2021, Distribution AIRBUS DS)

The Yusang-ni missile operating base can be functionally divided into seven broad areas: headquarters and support area (including a small underground facility), large underground facility and support compound, hardened drive-through facility, east barracks and support area, Sang-dong support area, Tapkol housing area, and Kochon housing area. Analysis of commercial satellite imagery acquired on January 5, 2021 and February 7, 2021 indicates that the Yusang-ni missile base is operational and that minor development (i.e., construction, etc.) has continued since our last report on May 9, 2019.

2nd photo link for overview: https://i0.wp.com/beyondparallel.csi...40%2C360&ssl=1
Close-up view of the Yusang-ni missile operating base, January 5, 2021 (Copyright © CNES 2021, Distribution AIRBUS DS)

Headquarters and Support Area

Recent imagery shows that minor changes have taken place within the headquarters and support area. Compared to the last report in May 2019, a support building facing the base headquarters and administration area has been completed.

3rd photo link: https://i2.wp.com/beyondparallel.csi...40%2C360&ssl=1
Close-up view of the headquarters and administration buildings, January 5, 2021. (Copyright © CNES 2021, Distribution AIRBUS DS)

In the support area adjacent to the headquarters, two small buildings have been razed. The razing of these buildings may be an indicator of planned construction in the area, much in the manner that nine buildings were razed to give way to eight larger buildings between 2013 and 2019. No changes are noted to either the four-story barracks/office building or the small UGF entrance in the support area.

A large maintenance-type building has replaced a small group of buildings to the north of the headquarters. Satellite imagery shows that this new maintenance building was completed sometime between October and December of 2020. On the hill above the new building a dirt road has been constructed.

Still another photo link: https://i1.wp.com/beyondparallel.csi...40%2C360&ssl=1
Close-up view of the support area includes a new maintenance building completed in 2020, a new road, support buildings, and a UGF entrance. Two buildings to the northwest of the four-story barracks/office building have been razed, January 5, 2021 (Copyright © CNES 2021, Distribution AIRBUS DS)

File Note: To review the remaining report you will have to go on site - there's just too much to post on this thread.

It's the best overhead views of NK that we've ever gotten and will most likely be targeted should a war break out with NK.
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Boats