“US think tank: ‘Increase in activity at North Korea’s Sinpo Shipyard… Possibility of conducting SLBM tests'”

CSIS Analysis of ‘Beyond Division’… “Kim Unok Heroic Submarine Transferred to Dry Dock for Tower Crane Installation”,
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North Korea Sinpo Shipyard
[CSIS Beyond Division Capture. Redistribution and DB Prohibition],
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, ” (Washington= Yonhap News) Kim Kyung-hee correspondent = Unusual increase in activities related to submarines including ‘Kim Unok Heroic Submarine’ near the Sinpo Shipyard in North Korea, and there is a possibility of additional test launches of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) within this summer.”,
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, ” According to ‘Beyond Division’, a North Korea specialist website of the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the 13th local time, large-scale activities including the first tactical nuclear attack submarine publicly claimed by North Korea as ‘Kim Unok Heroic Submarine’ at the Sinpo Shipyard over the recent 5 weeks, and activities related to the 8·24 Heroic Submarine (experimental ballistic missile launch submarine · SSBA), missile submarine test barge, have increased remarkably.”,
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, ‘ \’Beyond Division\’ stated that “These 3 submarines are key to North Korea’s ballistic missile submarine and SLBM, submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) development programs,” and pointed out that “such activities could be preparations for the upcoming maritime test of Kim Unok Heroic Submarine, additional launch preparations for SLBM · SLCM, or both.”.’,
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, ‘ According to the website, Kim Unok Heroic Submarine has been docked at the Sinpo Shipyard since its public unveiling in September last year, and it was transferred to the dry dock (a structure excavated on the coast to allow large ships to enter for construction or repair of large ships) in mid-last month.’,
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, ‘ ‘Beyond Division’ stated that “Satellite images taken between the 23rd and the 11th of last month do not confirm exactly what work is being done on Kim Unok Heroic Submarine,” and speculated that “Based on the presence of a tower crane on the dry dock, it could be related to the installation of launch equipment for maritime experiments.”.’,
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, ‘ According to the website, the 8·24 Heroic Submarine also moved to the dry dock of the shipyard between the 8th and the 17th of last month, and it is currently repositioned under a security canopy instead of Kim Unok Heroic Submarine.’,
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, ‘ Furthermore, between the 28th and the 4th of last month, a telescopic crane was installed on the security canopy above the 8·24 Heroic Submarine, and it was confirmed that the crane disappeared in satellite images two days later on the 6th.’,
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, ‘ The website also pointed out that a submersible missile test barge that was previously installed next to the shipyard passageway was moved to a security zone and positioned behind the 8·24 Heroic Submarine stern.’,
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, ‘ \’Beyond Division\’ stated that “The purpose of such activities is unclear” and explained that “in the past, telescopic cranes were used for maintenance of the 8·24 Heroic Submarine or for attaching experimental SLBMs.”.’,
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, ‘ This site analyzed that “The activities of these submarines could have a significant impact on North Korea’s submarine technology and the design and operation of SLBMs in the future,” and suggested that “such activities themselves could symbolize changes in Kim Jong-un’s diplomatic posture, which has become more aggressive since 2023.”.’,
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