[A screenshot image captured from 38North website]
Satellite imagery revealed evidence of a massive circular explosion scar last month in an airport that appeared to be related to the development of North Korea's intermediate-range Musudan ballistic missile, according to 38 North, the website of a US research institute.
US and South Korean military authorities said that a North Korean missile launched near an air base in the eastern port city of Wonsan on March 22 appeared to have exploded within seconds of take-off.
The type of the missile was not known, but 38 North suggested it was the failed test of a Musudan missile with an estimated range of more than 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles). North Korea has launched a series of Musudans in an effort to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The Musudan (Hwasong-10/KN-07) could reach as far as Guam.
An image from March 28 showed evidence of a massive 110-meters-in-diameter irregular circular explosion scar on the secondary runway leading to the launch site near the Kalma airport in Wonsan where North Korea conducted multiple tests of its Musudan missiles in 2016, 38 North said.
The website, well known for its precise analysis of North Korea's missile and nuclear activities, ruled out the explosion of an aircraft or a fuel truck saying the scar might have been left by an explosion of a ballistic missile being transported or elevated for launch.
"While we cannot be certain, it is highly probable that this explosion scar represents the announced missile launch failure," it said, adding the missile was likely either being transported to the nearby processing building and then onto launch positions on the beach, or being raised for launch, when it suffered "a catastrophic failure".
The scar is only 400 meters away from the building used for processing the Musudan missiles and transporter-erector-launchers (TELs), and 650 meters from the launch positions, 38 North said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to launch more rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, claiming Pyongyang has acquired re-entry technology, despite doubts about its ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile.
US President Donald Trump has vowed to stop Pyongyang from mastering ICBM capabilities.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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