A satellite image shows suspected construction of worker housing near Hamhung in North Korea (REUTERS)
THE INDEPENDENT| Published November 26, 2024
The plant at Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung reportedly makes Hwasong-11 solid-fuel ballistic missile
North Korea is expanding a weapons manufacturing complex that assembles a variety of short-range missiles allegedly used by Russia against Ukraine, satellite images showed.
Researchers at a think tank in the US identified the facility, known as the “February 11” plant, which is part of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung in North Korea’s second-most populous city.
The assessment comes just days after South Korea‘s spy agency accused Pyongyang of supplying additional artillery systems to Russia and amid claims that some of the North Korean troops deployed in Russia have begun engaging in combat.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied allegations of North Korea sending weapons and munitions to aid Russia‘s war effort.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.independent.co.uk
RELATED: North Korea expand plant making missile used by Russian in Ukraine, researchers say
A satellite image shows a suspected missile assembly building under construction (lower center of photo) at the “February 11 Plant” near Hamhung, North Korea – REUTERSpix
THE SUN | Published November 25, 2024
WASHINGTON/SEOUL: North Korea is expanding a key weapons manufacturing complex that assembles a type of short-range missile used by Russia in Ukraine, researchers at a U.S.-based think tank have concluded, based on satellite images.
The facility, known as the February 11 plant, is part of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung, North Korea’s second-largest city, on the country’s east coast.
Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), located at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said the plant was the only one known to produce the Hwasong-11 class of solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian officials say these munitions – known as the KN-23 in the West – have been used by Russian forces in their assault on Ukraine.
The expansion of the complex has not been previously reported.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied that North Korea has transferred weapons for Russia to use against Ukraine, which it invaded in February 2022. Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense treaty at a summit in June and have pledged to boost their military ties.
North Korea’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
The satellite images, taken in early October by the commercial satellite firm Planet Labs, show what appears to be an additional assembly building under construction as well as a new housing facility, likely intended for workers, according to the analysis by researchers at CNS.
It also appears that Pyongyang is improving the entrances for some of the underground facilities at the complex.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.thesun.my
Be the first to comment