Recent satellite imagery has detected bright lights emanating from North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station, the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and Rajin Port, locations previously linked to violations of international sanctions.
According to Voice of America on February 7, the unusual nighttime activity stands out in a country plagued by chronic power shortages, raising questions about ongoing operations at these sites.
A newly released NASA nighttime satellite image of Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, where the Sohae Satellite Launching Station is located, reveals an unusually bright spot within the facility.
A nighttime satellite image of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. One specific area within the site is noticeably illuminated, with additional light visible from other locations below. [NASA, VOA]
This illuminated area is situated north of the main launch site, approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from both a rail station used for rocket transport and a newly constructed horizontal assembly building, according to VOA. While the location is somewhat removed from North Korea’s main rocket launch pad, it still falls within the Sohae Satellite Launching Station’s perimeter, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the entrance.
The presence of lights in an otherwise dark region strongly suggests ongoing nighttime activity at the site. Analysts speculate that North Korea could be renovating existing facilities, constructing new infrastructure, or conducting preparations for another satellite launch.
Additional light sources were detected at multiple locations within the launch facility, indicating that some parts of the site remain operational or at least actively maintained.
North Korea has previously conducted satellite launches from Sohae, with two failed attempts in May and August 2023, followed by a successful third launch in November. However, its most recent fourth launch attempt in May 2024 ended in failure when the rocket exploded mid-air.
Since then, Pyongyang has vowed additional launches but has yet to display concrete signs of imminent activity. In October 2023, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported to the National Assembly that North Korea was preparing to reattempt a reconnaissance satellite launch, leveraging Russian technology and acquiring advanced components.
Given these circumstances, the recent illumination of the Sohae facility at night has drawn significant attention.
Similar nighttime activity was also observed at Kaesong Industrial Complex and Rajin Port, two sites frequently suspected of violating United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.
At Kaesong, satellite imagery showed lights emanating from the southern part of the complex, suggesting that North Korea continues to operate South Korean-owned factories during nighttime hours.
Reports of unauthorized North Korean operations at Kaesong have persisted since 2023. Despite the complex being officially shut down in 2016, new satellite images confirm that activity has continued into 2024.
Meanwhile, at Rajin Port, a key location identified in suspected North Korea-Russia arms transactions, bright lights were observed during late-night hours, suggesting that cargo loading and unloading operations were taking place.
The Rajin Port has long been monitored for large vessel movements, with some reports linking it to potential arms shipments between North Korea and Russia. If such transactions are occurring, they would constitute a violation of UNSC resolutions. However, both Pyongyang and Moscow have repeatedly denied allegations of weapons trade.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
