EXCLUSIVE: Activity seen at North Korea launch site
By Adam Levine
A new satellite image has captured increased activity on North Korea's launch pad as the country prepares for its controversial missile launch in mid-April.
The DigitalGlobe image taken on March 28 shows trucks on the Tongch'ang-ni launch pad. Atop the umbilical tower, which sits beside where the assembled rocket will stand, a crane arm that will be used to lift the rocket stages has been swung wide.
While South Korean media are reporting the first stage of the rocket - known as the booster - has been moved to the launch facility, DigitalGlobe Senior Analyst Joseph Bermudez said that is not visible in this image.
"It does confirm a higher level of activity within the overall facility and significant activity at the launch pad specifically," according to Bermudez. "This activity appears consistent with preparations for a satellite launch."
The booster would be placed on top of the mobile launch platform (in the satellite image, the black square on the launch pad) that shows nothing on it when the DigitalGlobe image was taken. There is evidence of some sort of spill near the trucks sitting on the launch pad, Bermudez told CNN. Additional support equipment is visible near the mobile launch pad.
Bermudez said the North Koreans are assembling the long-range missile inside a horizontal assembly facility not far from the launch pad after it was shipped by rail from a factory outside Pyongyang.
Once the missile is assembled and tested, the stages will be moved by specialized vehicles to the launch pad and assembled, lifted by the crane and assembled on the umbilical tower, Bermudez explained.
The buildings visible to the right of the launch pad in the satellite image are storage for fuel and oxidizer, according to Bermudez. A pipeline leading to the umbilical tower is visible in the image.
The launch, expected between April 12 and April 16, is meant to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Song, the founder of communist North Korea and the grandfather of the current North Korean leader.
The launch is in violation of numerous United Nations resolutions and the most recent agreement with the U.S.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
They will continue shooting these missiles off, no one will stop them. One day they will perfect there missiles and then they will
become the threat we know they were.
obviously like your web-site but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform the truth on the other hand I will surely come back again.
Hello there, simply become aware of your blog via Google, and found that it is really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels. I'll appreciate in case you continue this in future. Numerous other people might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
My brother suggested I may like this web site. He used to be totally right. This publish truly made my day. You can not consider just how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Woah this weblog is wonderful i like reading your posts. Stay up the good work! You realize, many people are looking round for this info, you could aid them greatly.
KARMA ARE FOR REAL TO THIS DOG AND CAT WORLD FULL OF HELL AND HEAVENLY PLACES ARE HERE ON THIS STUPID PLANET EARTH , AMEN .
LET THEM LAUNCH SEE WHAT HAPPEN , IF THEY START THE WAR THAN START THE WAR , IF THEY AIN'T START THE WAR THAN WE ALL CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT , AMEN .