North Korea ‘has secretly built artificial islands to use as military bases in the event of nuclear war’, chilling new satellite images reveal
Kim Jong-un’s henchmen mysteriously filling in areas on coast and connecting them to mainland
NORTH Korea has been covertly building military bases that could be used as a launching pad for nuclear missiles, new satellite images reveal.
Land is being reclaimed from the sea close to the city of Sohae where Kim Jong-un is developing his nukes and the rockets that will deliver them.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to accelerate its nuclear weapons programme to “maximum pace” and test a nuclear device “at any time”, as tensions rise around the Korean peninsula.
And it would appear the secretive state has drawn inspiration from China’s artificial island building in the South Sea as a way to expand the reach of its military.
Missile launch pads or underground silos and observation areas appear to be located on these islands.
The isles are different sizes and shapes, with wide roads suitable for missile-bearing trucks leading to pale rectangular areas.
It is also possible the facilities are for oil exploration, since the Yellow Sea is “full of oil”, North Korea expert Dr Leonid Petrov told.
The sea has estimated reserves of billions of tonnes but a lack of collaboration between the two countries has held back the exploitation of it.
“It could be strategic or for oil exploration,” said Dr Petrov.
But there appears to be VIP buildings.
“At first we were really concerned about what the initial purpose of those islands are — whether they’re for military or agricultural purposes — but when we saw the observation decks, we thought, those are military.”
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been high for weeks, driven by concerns that the North is about to conduct its sixth nuclear test in defiance of pressure from the United States and Pyongyang's sole major ally, China.
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