
North Korea recently expanded missile launch facilities on the coast of Anbyeon County near Wonsan on the east coast, which may be a move to conduct missile tests more regularly or build a full-scale missile base, NK Pro, a US-published North Korea news outlet, reported through satellite image analysis.
AI-generated summary
North Korea has conducted missile tests off the coast of Anbyeon County in the past, and Chairman Kim Jong-un led military exercises there in February 2020.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Hwa-seop = North Korea recently expanded missile launch facilities on the coast of Anbyeon County near Wonsan on the east coast, NK Pro, a North Korean news outlet published in the United States, reported on the 6th (local time).
The media explained that this expansion may be a sign that North Korea is attempting to conduct missile tests more regularly in the area or is planning to conduct additional construction to turn this area into a full-fledged missile base.
According to NK Pro's analysis of Planet Labs' satellite images, an expansion that almost doubled the length of a new building that was built at the end of last year at the southern end of Sangeum-ri Beach in Anbyeon-gun was carried out a few weeks ago.
In addition, a new road was built to improve direct access for large vehicles such as mobile launchers (TELs).
NK Pro analyzed that the height of this building, which is believed to be an inspection facility, appears to be sufficient to carry out launch preparation work such as loading the missile onto the TEL or testing the standing device.
According to NK Pro, after the expansion of this building, short-range missiles were launched from Anbyeon Beach on September 12 and 20, and an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was launched on October 3.
The building is located where one of the existing structures was demolished, and was 40 meters long and 20 meters wide when it was first built at the end of last year.
Short-range missiles were launched from the coast of Anbyeon County in May 2024 and May 2025, and Chairman Kim Jong-un led military training here in February 2020.
According to NK Pro's analysis of North Korean state media photos, Chairman Kim Jong-un and his daughter Kim Joo-ae watched two recent test launches near this facility.
A photo released on the 4th showed them looking north toward the missile TEL.
NK Pro explained that when the observation location and viewing direction were reproduced in Google Earth, the mountain in the photo matched the topographical features near the facility.
Additionally, in a photo taken by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) from one of the tests conducted in September, a circular building can be seen on the reflective surface of the TV screen they were watching, and NK Pro analyzed that this is likely to be part of a nearby building seen at this location in the satellite photo.
According to NK Pro, this building was also expanded to double its size in September 2025.
Planet Labs satellite images show new construction and paving in the circular building's parking lot in the week leading up to the IRBM launch test on October 3.
In photos from the Korean Central News Agency, a multi-story mobile trailer appears to have been installed in front of the circular building, which may have been used as a space for Kim Jong-un to wait or observe launches.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
It is highly likely that North Korea will conduct additional missile tests at coastal facilities in Anbyeon County.
Likely · Within weeks
This facility could be used as a more regular missile launch base in the future.
Possible · Within months

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