NORTH KOREA-MISSILE/FILE File footage of previous North Korean missile as the North upgrades launch tower

Record ID: 149232

  • Title: NORTH KOREA-MISSILE/FILE File footage of previous North Korean missile as the North upgrades launch tower
  • Date: 22nd July 2015
  • Summary: CHOLSAN COUNTY, NORTH PYONGYANG PROVINCE, NORTH KOREA (FILE - APRIL 8, 2012) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PEOPLE WALKING ALONG ROAD BESIDE ROCKET VARIOUS OF UNHA6D NORTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG ON SIDE OF ROCKET ROCKET ON LAUNCH PAD WORKERS AT BASE OF ROCKET MEMBERS OF MEDIA ON TARMAC GUARDS STANDING ROCKET ON LAUNCH PAD WORKER WALKING PAST NORTH KOREAN
  • Embargoed: 6th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZ1MFGN3WSNYF0LSC4SITKM99
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    File pictures show a North Korean rocket filmed in April 2012 and a launch in December 2012 in Cholsan county, North Korea as well as a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang.
    South Korea's Yonhap News agency reported on Wednesday (July 22) that North Korea has erected a new, taller launch tower at its missile base, possibly in preparation for firing a long-range rocket to mark an important national anniversary in October.
    The 67-metre (220-ft.) tower will be able to accommodate the launch of a longer-range missile than the rocket test-fired in December 2012. That launch was widely considered successful in putting an object into space orbit, the Yonhap report said.
    The North called it a space launch vehicle, but the international community said it was a missile that violated United Nations Security Council resolutions.
    North Korea is banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions from conducting tests that use ballistic missile technology but has defied international warnings and sanctions to pursue missile and nuclear programmes.
    A South Korean government source said that their assessment is that the North will use the newly upgraded Tongchang-ri (missile) launch pad to launch a long-range missile larger than Unha-3, Yonhap quoted.
    Unha-3 refers to the long-range rocket fired in 2012 from the base near its west coast.
    The launch is likely to come around the 70th anniversary of the founding of the North's ruling Workers' Party on October 10, the source was quoted as saying.
    South Korea's Defence Ministry could not immediately confirm the report but an official said they were seeking to verify it.
    North Korea is believed to be developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) but is believed to be years away from deployment. It is also working to miniaturise a nuclear warhead to mount on a delivery vehicle.
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