Missile launch preparations completed in N Korea - Chosun Ilbo
12:43, 16 June 2009
SEOUL. June 16. KAZINFORM. North Korea has completed preparations for a missile launch from the Tongchangri range in the Pyongan-pukto province where a long-range system was transported, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported on Tuesday with reference to a government source. In particular, an electric power and fuel supply tower has been installed at the site that will also allow engineers to check the missile?s systems; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
Analysis of satellite images makes it possible to suppose that the launch structure is 50 metres high, which considerably surpasses the earlier estimates of 30 metres and allows launching intercontinental ballistic missiles with the length of 40 metres and more. At the Musudanri range built earlier the launch pad is 32 metres high and it is 3 times less in size than the new launching complex.
However, experts so far have not arrived at the common conclusion about the type of the rocket that may be fired from Tongchangri.
The newspaper said that North Korea has finished preparatory work at a missile launch pad in Tongchangri, North Pyongan Province, where a long-range missile has been transported, a South Korean government source said Monday. ?But the launch is not imminent because no radar has been set up and no missile has been installed at the launch pad,? the source added. But the launch structure connecting electric power and fuel to the missile and allowing personnel to check the missile has been erected. That means North Korea is speeding up preparations to launch a long-range missile there.
It said South Korean and US intelligence services are watching two or three locations as possible candidate sites for another nuclear test. The likeliest candidate site is the eastern mine pit area of Mt. Mantap in Punggyeri, where the first nuclear test in October 2006 happened; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.