26 Jul SITREP: North Korea has completed construction of a pier at a key space launch facility
By,
Octavio Perez, Senior Fellow | MSI2
Three years later, Kim Jong Un’s orders are finally visible on satellite imagery….
In March 2022, Kim Jong Un, in a personal visit to the Sohae Satellite launch complex, gave a direct order to expand the facility. Much like his father and grandfather (Kim Jong Il, Kim Il Sung) would give personal guidance at factories, construction sites, and missile building facilities. He followed the tradition of these nepotist rulers who know all, control all, and are considered demigods, fathers of the republic.
It is quite evident that in the last three years, we have seen numerous satellite launches or attempted launches by the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). In November 2023, they put their first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit (Malligyong 1).
North Korea henceforth became an active space player, having an eye in the sky, which also serves as an instrument of psychological warfare since they now can detect specific targets, troop movements that would otherwise only be reported by human sources or electronic intercepts.
Needless to say, South Korea initially sought technological assistance from Russia in 2007 and even bought helicopters and tanks. Russia helped South Korea develop the first stage rocket propulsion system for the Korea Space Launch Vehicle, something considered dual technology since R&D [research and development] for a satellite rocket and an ICBM are pretty much ambiguous.
So, the space quest has had unusual bed partners, and right after the start of the Ukrainian War, we noticed its impact:
- The destruction of the Antonov 225 took out one of only three aircraft capable of transporting satellites, thus increasing the cost of transporting satellites
- South Korea abandoned plans to launch from Russia
- Russia, on its side, as the need for North Korean artillery shells and later troops, as well as international sanctions, impeded collaboration with South Korea
So South Korea aligned itself with SpaceX and the US on this endeavor. Meanwhile, North Korea started to receive assistance after the famous visit of Kim Jong Un on September 13, 2023, at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, where Putin agreed to assist in “developing technology.”
North Korea intended to launch up to three reconnaissance satellites by the end of 2024. By May of 2024, the last failed attempt, no further activity was noted in 2024. So, the expectation for 2025 is high, but something needs to happen.
And alas, imagery from May 25th through July 18th finally revealed the completion of construction of the pier at the facility. Its purpose:
- Transport large rocket components
- Creates an alternative to rail deliveries
Several think tanks, including 38 North, The Stimson Center, and Planet Labs PBC, have analyzed the implications of the port expansion, which has been upgraded to allow deeper draft vessels and facilitate cargo unloading.
Other significant features detected:
- Expansion of the road network to and from the port
- Potential addition of rail lines adjacent to the road
In the last 26 years, North Korea has made at least nine credible attempts to put a satellite in orbit with a 33% success rate (that is, 3 of 9 attempts). In their latest attempt in May of 2024, the rocket exploded in mid-flight.
Based on the activity at the complex during the last 18 months, it appears that Kim’s orders are finally taking shape. It is quite evident that the facility is being expanded to accommodate several rockets and a missile research and development facility.
Kim’s orders are finally visible, at Sohae. He still has a lot of demands on the submarine delays, the refloating of the 5,000-ton destroyer Kang Kon, major repairs at the Yongbyon nuclear research facility which will expand the country’s nuclear arsenal.
References
AzPost. (2025). New pier completed at North Korea rocket launch site, satellite imagery shows [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJfMF2sOfNo&ab_channel=AzPost
Eom, T. Y. (2025, January 13). Espionage, elevated: North and South Korea’s growing military satellite competition. Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/espionage-elevated-north-and-south-koreas-growing-military
@realTuckFrumper. (2025, July 18). Satellite images show boost to North Korea’s rocket production [Post]. X. https://x.com/realTuckFrumper/status/1946245946943086640
Newsweek. (2025, July 18). Satellite images show boost to North Korea’s rocket production. https://www.newsweek.com/satellite-images-north-korea-rocket-production-boost-2100645
Stone, M., & Park, J.-m. (2025, July 17). New pier completed at North Korea rocket launch site, satellite imagery shows. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/new-pier-completed-north-korea-rocket-launch-site-satellite-imagery-shows-2025-07-17/
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute (MSI²).