It was reported that a significant flood in North Korea’s Jagang Province has caused substantial damage to military factories, including missile production facilities. The collapse of factory buildings and the destruction of roads and bridges have likely forced a halt in operations.
According to Voice of America, satellite images taken by Planet Labs on September 6 show a cluster of red and teal-roofed buildings in the Jeoncheon area of Jagang Province. This location is known as the “Jeoncheon 2.8 Machinery Factory,” a key site for producing artillery and missiles in North Korea.
The factory is situated along the flood-prone banks of the Jangja River, where heavy rains in late July caused the river to swell.
While the factory appears mostly intact, a blue stripe-shaped object can be seen in the central yard, something that was not present in earlier images. This resembles makeshift shelters observed in other flood-stricken areas, indicating potential flood damage to the site.
The “65 Highway,” which connects the factory to supply routes, was washed away by the flood, leaving only traces. This highway was the only access point for transporting materials to the factory, cutting off logistics operations.
Additionally, two bridges that cross a nearby river have been severed from the road network, and several buildings to the north of the factory have disappeared, according to satellite imagery.
The Jeoncheon 2.8 Machinery Factory is known as a critical military production facility for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and mobile missile launchers. While the exact extent of the damage within the factory remains unclear, the loss of roads suggests that missile production materials cannot be transported, and launch platforms may be stuck at the site, VOA reported.
Approximately 3 kilometers west of the factory, another missile-related facility, located about 5 kilometers along the road, also seems to have been affected by the flood.
Satellite images from September 6 reveal that around 150 homes in the nearby village have vanished, suggesting that the entire area was devastated by flooding. It’s highly likely that personnel involved in missile development and operation have also suffered residential damage.
Another military factory located in the city of Kanggye, Jagang Province, has also sustained damage. Satellite images from July 16 show the factory intact, but by August 7, parts of the structure had disappeared, and a connecting bridge was washed away. The factory remains inoperative as of now, one month later.
Jagang Province, especially the areas around Jeoncheon and Kanggye, is densely packed with military factories along the Jangja River, and it is suspected that other military facilities may have also suffered flood damage.
Some reports indicate that North Korean authorities have been forced to dispose of explosives after floodwaters infiltrated military factory tunnels.
According to South Korean media, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) recently reported to the National Assembly that North Korea has made no mention of the flood damage in Jagang Province, which the NIS described as “intriguing and unusual.”
The NIS is reportedly monitoring the situation closely, noting that the concentration of military factories in Jagang Province could impact the production of military supplies and disrupt arms trade between North Korea and Russia.
The intelligence agency also reported that Workers’ Party officials in Jagang Province have been executed in response to the flood damage, reflecting the severity of the situation in the region.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
