North Korea still working on submarine ballistic missile despite reported setback
North Korea is proceeding with its development of a submarine-launched ballistic missile despite reports of a failed test several weeks ago, according to a US research institute.
The US-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said on Tuesday that satellite imagery of a naval shipyard at the east coast site of Sinpo suggests that the submarine used in the test remains seaworthy and that there may be new testing activity.
The imagery from 23 December also shows North Korea is constructing facilities that could accommodate the building of bigger submarines, according to the analysis published by 38 North, the institute’s website.
Missiles launched from submerged vessels would be harder to detect than land-based ones, but the institute says North Korea probably remains years away from having an operational system.