Reports have emerged that North Korea is expanding roads across the West Sea Satellite Launch Site.
On the 21st (local time), U.S. North Korea specialist media 38 North reported that North Korea is continuing a road expansion project connecting the eastern tunnel entrance, coastal launch pad, and southern port at the Dongchang-ri West Sea Satellite Launch Site in North Pyongan Province. The basis for this is recent commercial satellite imagery.
38 North raised the possibility that this may be work to lay additional tracks. It noted, "Vehicles or launch materials can easily reach various parts of the launch site."
Last year, North Korea stated that it would launch three reconnaissance satellites, but it failed to launch the reconnaissance satellite Malligyeong-1-1 in May of that year. No additional launches have been attempted since then. 38 North believes efforts to complete this plan could resume.
38 North also analyzed through expert contributions that Kim Jong Un, Chairperson of the North Korean State Affairs Commission, is targeting the United States with the nuclear submarine he inspected at the construction site. It projected that the Polaris-6 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) could be equipped within a few years. It added, "Given North Korea's past practices, these missiles are likely to be deployed on submarines within a few years."
Officially, it is not known whether North Korea has developed or tested a reactor for nuclear submarines. The duration of this process remains unclear. However, 38 North reports that if there is support from Russia, this period could be shortened.
Meanwhile, on the 8th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim inspected important shipyards and instructed shipbuilding projects. It also noted that the construction status of the "nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine" promoted by the resolutions of the 8th Workers' Party Congress was assessed.
During the Workers' Party Congress at that time, North Korea presented five key tasks for the development of defense capabilities, one of which was to "possess nuclear submarines and underwater launch nuclear strategic weapons."