New NK launch site nears readiness

[The site is at 39.660 N, 124.704 E.]

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/07/2009050700240.html

Activity at N.Korean Test Sites Intensifies

North Korea has been speeding up construction of a new long-range
missile test site in Tongchangri, North Pyongan Province. And vehicles
and personnel are busily moving around in Kilju, North Hamgyong
Province, where the North conducted an underground nuclear test in
2006, showing signs of preparations for another.

"The North has recently been speeding up construction at the test site
in Tongchangri by deploying more equipment and personnel," a South
Korean government official said Wednesday. "We expected the North
would complete construction sometime late this year, but it now seems
that it could be completed several months earlier."

Construction of the test site began eight years ago and was 80 percent
complete last September.

South Korean military authorities believe the North could accelerate
completion of the test site and test-launch a long-range ballistic
missile from there. North Korea on April 29 threatened to conduct a
second nuclear test and test an intercontinental ballistic missile,
unless the UN Security Council lifts sanctions against it and
"apologizes."

The test site in Tongchangri is believed to be capable of launching
both ICBMs and satellite rockets, and is much larger and has more up-
to-date facilities than the current similar test site in Musudanri,
North Hamgyong Province.
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