By Lee Sung-yul Staff reporter
At least four missile-producing factories have been confirmed to be in operation in Stalinist North Korea and the country is building two additional missile launch sites to add to the 10 it already has, a reliable government source in Seoul said yesterday. North Korea is believed to be capable of churning out more than 100 Scud-type missiles a year, said the source who demanded anonymity. The figure may be much higher, the source added, because reports of other missile-making sites have not yet been confirmed. North Korean defectors have testified that the North has up to eight missile-producing factories. In one of the missile manufacturing sites, Factory No. 118, in Kaechon, South Pyongan Province, more than 10,000 workers are engaged in producing missile launch engines in underground facilities. Factory No. 26 in Kanggye, Chagang Province, is producing missile parts, Factory No. 125 at Mt. Hyongje in Pyongyang is assembling missile parts and a factory in Pyongyang is producing explosive compounds, he said. The information was released as U.S. and North Korean officials are preparing to resume two-day missile talks Monday in Pyongyang.
Since 1996, the United States has asked that North Korea participate in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and that the export and production of missiles with ranges of over 300km be halted. The international community has criticized Pyongyang for exporting missiles and missile technology. The Defense Ministry Wednesday warned that North Korean missiles and biochemical weapons pose a serious threat to the security of South Korea and neighboring countries. South Korean intelligence officials believe North Korea exported more than 250 Scud missiles to Iran, Syria and the United Arab Emirates between 1987 and 1992. Pyongyang also exported missile technology and parts to Pakistan and India. North Korea has already produced and deployed 500km-range Scud-C missiles by updating Soviet-made Scud-B missiles. In 1993, it succeeded in test-firing a Rodong-1 missile with a range of 1,000km to 1,300km, and is now deploying the missiles for operation purposes. In August 1998, the country attempted to launch a small satellite into orbit using a transformed Taepodong missile, with a range of 1,700km to 2,000km, as a launch vehicle. The same propulsion system could be used to produce mid- to long-range missiles.
Pyongyang recently deployed 20 SA-5 ground-to-air missiles with a range of 250km to its forward positions. If launched the missiles could reach central regions of the South. An intelligence official said North Korea's purpose in producing and stockpiling guided missiles and chemical and biological weapons is most probably to be used as a means of strategic threat and negotiation. "In deploying these weapons to attack major cities and strategic targets in the South simultaneously, Pyongyang believes it can get the most out of its military and psychological posturing," he said. The 10 missiles sites in the North, have been confirmed to be located in Mt. Kanggamchan (Jungsan, South Pyongan Province), Mayangdo (Sinpo, South Hamkyong Province), Paekun-ri (Kusong, North Pyongan Province), Rodong-Taepodong (Hwadae, North Hamkyong Province), Chonggang-up (Huchang, Jagang Province), Okpyong (Munchon, Kangwon Province), Jiha-ri (Ichon, Kangwon Province) and three Pyongyang metropolitan areas of Sangwon-gun, Oryu-ri and Chunghwa-gun, the source said. The North also has an unknown number of mobile launch equipment, he added.
Two new bases are also under construction in the two South Hamkyong Province areas of Tuksong-gun and Yongoh-dong. Three of the missile sites appear to be aimed at Japan, the official said.
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