MILITARY
Noord-Koreaanse raketbases
February 9, 2022 - The Hoejung-ni missile base, built near the Chinese border to protect it from U.S. pre-emptive strikes, is one of many undeclared missile bases that make up Pyongyang’s arsenal.
This latest undeclared missile base, just 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the border with China, will likely house a regiment-sized unit equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the underground facility could deploy Taepodong-2 ICBMs or Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs). North Korea launched a Hwasong-12 IRBM from the nearby Mupyong-ri missile base on January 30, 2022 -- the first IRBM missile launch by North Korea since 2017.
Hoejung-ni is one of Pyongyang’s 20 undeclared ballistic missile bases, reports CSIS. Undeclared bases are not included in nuclear talks and will escape dismantlement in any nuclear deal.
The Hoejung-ni missile base is 15 kilometres northwest of the older Yongjo-ni missile base. Hoejung-ni is the second possible ICBM base in North Korea identified by CSIS analysts. Yusang-ni, a base 63km (39 miles) northeast of Pyongyang, the capital, was identified in 2019.
In January 2019, Pyongyang test-fired tactical and railway-borne missiles. The country also launched two rockets from a train last September and another pair in January.
The Haesan-Manpo railway, a 250km rail line that runs near the border with China, goes straight through Hoejung-ni.