38 North

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38 North
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Analysis on North Korea
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URL www.38north.org
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38 North is a website devoted to analysis about North Korea. [1] Its name refers to the 38th parallel north which passes through the Korean peninsula and from 1945 until the start of the Korean War in 1950 divided the peninsula into North and South Korea. [2] [lower-alpha 1] Formerly a program of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, it is now housed at the Stimson Center and is directed by Senior Fellow Jenny Town. [3] Notable contributors include nuclear scientist Sigfried Hecker, [4] former Associated Press Pyongyang Bureau Chief Jean H. Lee, [5] cybersecurity expert James Andrew Lewis, [6] and North Korea Tech founder Martyn Williams. [7]

Contents

Satellite imagery analysis

38 North is an authoritative source of policy and technical analysis regarding North Korea's internal and external affairs. It aims to facilitate an informed public policy debate about peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and provide policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders with data and insights that may enhance understanding one of the world's most complex security dilemmas. [8] 38 North uses commercial satellite imagery of key areas of interest in North Korea, providing its analysts with the opportunity to uncover insight into developments within the country. [9]

In November 2013, 38 North published a discovery of new construction at a North Korean missile launching site, which the institute said was being upgraded to handle larger rockets. [10]

In January 2016, 38 North reported on North Korea's ballistic missile submarine program, using satellite imagery analysis of Sinpo South Shipyard, following the "ejection" test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on December 21, 2015. [11] Joseph Bermudez said the imagery was indicative of North Korea's active pursuit of its SLBM program, [12] a prediction that was later supported by four SLBM tests throughout the year on March 16, April 23, July 9, and August 24. [13]

Later in January 2016, 38 North reported suspicious activity at North Korea's Sohae Satellite Launching Station. Satellite imagery analysis by Jack Liu showed low-level activity at key facilities and sites at Sohae. [14] Ten days after the article was published, North Korea conducted its launch of the Unha-4 carrying the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite at Sohae. [15]

In April 2016, 38 North analysts reported on exhaust plumes from a steam plant at Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center used to heat the main plant, a possible indicator that reprocessing additional plutonium could be underway. [16] In mid-April, 38 North reported on activity indicating North Korea was beginning to reprocess plutonium for nuclear weapons. [17] [18] The International Atomic Energy Agency did not confirm this until June 7, nearly two months later. [19]

In September 2016, 38 North reported new activity near all three portals at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, based on satellite imagery analysis conducted by Joseph Bermudez and Jack Liu. [20] The activity indicated that maintenance and minor excavation operations had resumed. The next day, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test at Punggye-ri. [21]

See also

Notes

  1. The 38th parallel north divided the American administered half of the peninsula from the Soviet administered half from 1945 until 1948, when the American administered half became South Korea and the Soviet administered half became North Korea.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea and weapons of mass destruction</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center</span> North Korean nuclear site

The Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center (녕변원자력연구소) is North Korea's major nuclear facility, operating its first nuclear reactors. It is located in Nyongbyon County in North Pyongan Province, about 100 km north of Pyongyang. The center produced the fissile material for North Korea's six nuclear weapon tests from 2006 to 2017, and since 2009 is developing indigenous light water reactor nuclear power station technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground</span> Rocket launching site in North Korea

The Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground(동해위성발사장), also known as Musudan-ri (Korean: 무수단리), is a rocket launching site in North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Korea and weapons of mass destruction</span> South Korean nuclear experiments

South Korea has the raw materials and equipment to produce a nuclear weapon. However, it has not opted to make one. South Korea has continued on a stated policy of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons since 2004 and has adopted a policy to maintain a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. By contrast, North Korea has and is developing additional nuclear weapons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the North Korean nuclear program</span> Chronology of the North Korean nuclear program

This chronology of the North Korean nuclear program has its roots in the 1950s and begins in earnest in 1989 with the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the main economic ally of North Korea. The chronology mainly addresses the conflict between the United States and North Korea, while including the influences of the other members of the six-party talks: China, Russia, South Korea, and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean People's Army Strategic Force</span> Branch of the Korean Peoples Army

The Korean People's Army Strategic Force, previously known as the Korean People's Army Strategic Rocket Force, is a military branch of the Korean People's Army (KPA) founded in 2012 that operates surface-to-surface missiles in the nuclear and conventional strike roles. It is mainly armed with ballistic missiles. The inventory includes domestic and Soviet designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sohae Satellite Launching Station</span> North Korean military facility

Sohae Satellite Launching Station is a rocket launching site in Tongch'ang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, North Korea. The base is located among hills close to the northern border with China. The spaceport was built on the site of the village Pongdong-ri which was displaced during construction. It was the site for the 13 April 2012 launch of the North Korean satellite Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3, which was launched to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-Sung. The rocket launch failed, but on 12 December of the same year Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 was successfully launched and brought into Earth orbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3</span> North Korean Earth observation satellite

Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 was a North Korean Earth observation satellite which, according to the DPRK, was for weather forecast purposes, and whose launch was widely portrayed in the West to be a veiled ballistic missile test. The satellite was launched on 13 April 2012 at 07:39 KST aboard the Unha-3 carrier rocket from Sohae Satellite Launching Station. The rocket exploded 90 seconds after launch near the end of the firing of the first stage of the rocket. The launch was planned to mark the centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the republic. On 1 December 2012 North Korea announced that a replacement satellite would be launched between 10 and 22 December 2012. After a delay and extending the launch window to 29 December, the rocket was launched on 12 December 2012.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site</span> North Korean nuclear test site

Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site was the only known nuclear test site of North Korea. Nuclear tests were conducted at the site in October 2006, May 2009, February 2013, January 2016, September 2016, and September 2017.

The Hwasong-13, also known as Nodong-C or KN-08 under the U.S. naming convention, is a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile believed to be under development by North Korea. The changes shown in the mock-up displayed in October 2015 indicated a change from a three- to two-stage design.

The Sinpo-class submarine, also called the Gorae class or Pongdae class, is a new class of submarine produced in North Korea. Only one submarine has been observed in service, the 8.24 Yongung. It is the largest submarine designed and built for the Korean People's Navy.

In the year 2016, North Korea conducted two nuclear tests: one in January and the other in September. Additionally, the country conducted several missile tests. As consequence, the United Nations Security Council adopted three resolutions against North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4</span> 2016 North Korean reconnaissance satellite

Kwangmyongsong-4 or KMS-4 is a reconnaissance satellite launched by North Korea on 7 February 2016.

In the year 2017, North Korea was involved in the 2017 North Korea crisis, along with other events. The country conducted a nuclear test in September, and several missile tests throughout the year. One of these was the country's first successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-14. Two missiles were launched over Hokkaido in the Japanese archipelago, in August and in September 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 North Korean nuclear test</span>

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on 3 September 2017, stating it had tested a thermonuclear weapon. The United States Geological Survey reported an earthquake of 6.3-magnitude not far from North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site. South Korean authorities said the earthquake seemed to be artificial, consistent with an underground nuclear test. The USGS, as well as China Earthquake Networks Center, reported that the initial event was followed by a second, smaller, earthquake at the site, several minutes later, which was characterized as a collapse of the cavity formed by the initial detonation.

The Kangson enrichment site is the name given to a suspected uranium enrichment site located in Chollima-guyok, just outside of Pyongyang, North Korea, along the Pyongyang-Nampo Expressway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–2023 North Korean missile tests</span> Missile testing in North Korea

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References

  1. "How badly are sanctions hurting North Korea's Kim Jong Un?". The Economist . Jul 26, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  2. Martin, Rachel; Inskeep, Steve (July 29, 2019). "Despite 'Loss Of Faith' In Kim Jong Un, The U.S. Tries Again For A Nuclear Deal (Transcript)". National Public Radio . Retrieved November 3, 2021. Jenny Town works for 38 North, a project named after the 38th parallel that roughly divides the two Koreas.
  3. "Jenny Town • Stimson Center". Stimson Center. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  4. "What to Make of North Korea's Latest Nuclear Test? | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2016-09-12. Archived from the original on 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  5. "North Korea's Expanding Foreign Press Corps | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2016-02-12. Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  6. "James A. Lewis | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  7. "Martyn Williams | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  8. "About". 38 North. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  9. "About". 38 North. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  10. "North Korea: Construction Seen at Rocket Site, Institute Reports". New York Times. 29 November 2013. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  11. "North Korea's Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Full Steam Ahead | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2016-01-05. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  12. "North Korea still working on submarine ballistic missile despite reported setback". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2016-01-05. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  13. "Monitoring the Threat: a Timeline of North Korean Missile Tests 2013-2016 | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2016-08-24. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  14. "Suspicious Activity at North Korea's Sohae Satellite Launching Station | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2016-01-28. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  15. "North Korean rocket puts object into space, angers neighbors, U.S." Reuters. 2017-02-08. Archived from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  16. "Suspicious Activity at Yongbyon Radiochemical Laboratory; Progress Towards Completing the Experimental Light Water Reactor | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2016-04-04. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  17. "More Evidence of Possible Reprocessing Campaign at North Korea's Yongbyon Facility | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2016-04-15. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  18. Euan McKirdy (5 April 2016). "'Suspicious activity' at N. Korea nuke site". CNN. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  19. "N Korea's Yongbyon plutonium site likely reactivated says IAEA". BBC News. 2016-06-07. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  20. "New Activity Near All Three Portals at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Archived from the original on 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  21. Hartmann, Margaret. "5th North Korea Nuclear Test Suspected After Earthquake Is Detected". Daily Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.