North Korea’s Secret Missile Base Raises Alarms for US security

North Korea’s Secret Missile Base Raises Alarms for US Security

A new report has uncovered a hidden missile base in North Korea. It sits near the border with China. This base could hold missiles that reach the United States. Experts say it poses a big nuclear threat. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released the findings on August 20, 2025. They used satellite images and other data to spot it.

The base is called Sinpung-dong. It is in North Pyongan Province. That is about 27 kilometers from China. And it is 146 kilometers north-northwest of Pyongyang. Construction started around 2004. By 2014, it was ready to use. Now, it stays active and well-kept. However, North Korea has never talked about it. It is one of 15 to 20 such secret sites.

Inside the base, there are barracks for soldiers. There is an underground area too. Plus, two big shelters for missiles. These shelters are 115 feet by 57 feet. They can fit large launchers. The shelters hide under trees and bushes. This makes them hard to see from space. But in winter, when leaves fall, they show up better.

The base likely holds six to nine intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). These could be Hwasong-15 or Hwasong-18 types. Both can carry nuclear warheads. They come with mobile launchers. That means they can move fast. In a crisis, the missiles would leave the base. They would meet up with warhead teams. Then, they would fire from hidden spots. This setup makes it tough for enemies to stop them.

CSIS thinks the base has a brigade of troops. That could mean three groups ready to fire. North Korea puts these bases near China on purpose. Victor Cha from CSIS said, “North Korea puts these missile bases near the Chinese border to make it harder for the U.S. to contemplate taking them out.” It adds risk for any attack.

North Korea keeps building its nuclear power. Despite UN rules, leader Kim Jong Un tests more missiles. In a speech last year, Kim said the world is changing fast. He called for stronger nuclear forces every day. The country may have 40 to 50 nuclear warheads now. And ways to send them far.

This base fits into a bigger plan. It is part of a “missile belt” with other sites like Hoejung-ni and Sangnam-ni. Together, they boost North Korea’s defense. They aim to scare off attacks from the US, South Korea, or Japan. Tensions rise as North Korea helps Russia in Ukraine. In return, it gets tech help.

Satellite images show work still going on at Sinpung-dong. For example, a photo from July 11, 2025, by Planet shows the full layout. Another from ESA’s Sentinel-2 on August 12, 2025, highlights the area. Insert image here: Overview of Sinpung-dong missile base, July 11, 2025, courtesy of Planet Labs (source: Google Images, search “Sinpung-dong satellite image CSIS”).

To understand the growth, here is a simple table of North Korea’s missile tests over years. It shows how threats have increased.

This data comes from open sources. It highlights a steady rise. A graph would show a line going up sharply after 2021. Imagine a bar chart with years on the bottom and test numbers on the side. The bars get taller each year. This supports both mobile and computer views as plain text.

People around the world worry about this. In Asia, countries like Japan and South Korea feel the heat. In North America, the US sees a direct risk. Even in Europe, Africa, South America, Australia, and Antarctica, folks track global security. All ages can grasp this – kids learn about world peace, adults think of safety, elders recall past wars.

For more on global news, check out https://america112.com/. It is from AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW). Stay updated there.

The US and allies might respond with more drills. But talks have stalled since 2019. What comes next? CSIS says watch for more builds.

Read the full CSIS report here for details: