SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has stepped up what could be preparations to launch a new rocket from its northwestern launch station in defiance of a United Nations ban, the satellite operator DigitalGlobe said on Tuesday, citing recent satellite imagery of the facility.
The increased activities at North Korea’s Sohae Space Launch Station came months after its Unha-3 rocket, launched from the same site in April, disintegrated shortly after takeoff and failed to put what North Korea claimed was a scientific satellite into orbit.
The United States and its allies condemned it as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that banned North Korea from testing technology that could be used to develop long-range ballistic missiles.
The April launch led to the collapse of a February deal under which Washington promised to ship humanitarian aid in return for the North’s agreement to suspend nuclear and missile tests, uranium enrichment and allow United Nations monitors back into its main nuclear complex. North Korea has since vowed to continue to launch rockets carrying satellites.
In a post on its Web site, DigitalGlobe cited satellite imagery taken last Friday to report “a marked increase in activity” at the North Korean launch site on the North’s west coast near China.
“This activity is consistent with launch preparations” before the failed April launching, it said. “Given the observed level of activity noted of a new tent, trucks, people and numerous portable fuel/oxidizer tanks — should North Korea desire — it could possibly conduct its fifth satellite launch event during the next three weeks.”
North Korea, which carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, considers itself a nuclear power. But there is doubt over its ability to deliver a nuclear payload atop its ballistic missiles. Since 1998, it has launched several long-range rockets, which Washington considered a cover for testing long-range missile technology. They all exploded in midair or failed in their stated purpose of putting satellites into orbit.
The activities at the North Korean launch site come as South Korea is preparing for a presidential election on Dec. 19. Japan is also scheduled to hold legislative elections e election on Dec. 16 and President Obama will be inaugurated for his second term in January.
In the past, when there were changes of governments in the region, North Korea has often tried to draw attention to its nuclear and missile threats in a tactic that analysts believed was aimed at forcing the new governments to engage Pyongyang and possibly offer concessions. In the past, North Korea was also accused of using military provocations to influence elections in the South.
Japan’s Asahi newspaper reported last week that American intelligence analysts had detected moves that were seen as preparations for a long-range rocket launch by North Korea. It said that cargo that appeared to be missile parts was transported in early November from a weapons factory in Pyongyang to an assembly plant at the missile launch base, commonly known as Tongchang-ri, e the town where it is located.
Earlier this month, 38 North, a Web site affiliated with the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, cited satellite imagery that it said indicated that North Korea has been testing rocket engines there.
Both Washington and Seoul said they were closely watching the site, and urged the North to refrain from testing long-range missiles.
North Korea May Be Planning Rocket Test, Satellite Operator Says http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-89EKCgBk8MZdE.gif
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