Expansion of the Rail Infrastructure at Sohae

Commercial satellite imagery indicates North Korea appears to be expanding a railway line into the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. The new rail spur offers another route for large components to enter the site and, potentially, ties into new buildings currently under construction.

The expanding infrastructure at Sohae, alongside the significant modernization and expansion activities that have taken place over the past two years, underscores North Korea’s expectations for increased satellite launching activity and long-term usage of the site.

Sohae’s Rail Infrastructure

The Sohae complex is connected to the North Korean railway network via an approximately 15-kilometer single-track railway line that leaves the Pyongui Line at Tongrim in North Phyongan province. The Pyongui Line runs from Pyongyang to Sinuiju and connects with the rest of the North Korean railway network.

Figure 1. Overview of Pongui Railway from Tongrim Station to Sohae Satellite Launching Station. Image: Google Earth, annotation by 38 North. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].

The line into Sohae splits into two just ahead of a covered rail transfer building, with one spur terminating in the transfer building and the other continuing beneath the main launch pad.

The new rail spur under construction will apparently run from a point just north of the transfer building and head down towards a new horizontal assembly building that is under construction where the old control building used to stand.

A new bridge is also now in place over the stream, which passes to the north of the transfer building, and there’s an apparent bridge on the main site road that passes over the new rail spur.

While construction on the rail bed and bridge is nearing completion, actual tracks have not yet been laid.

It is too early to tell if the line will terminate at the new building or continue into the nearby tunnel, which links the secure complex area with the coastal assets, but its presence opens new opportunities for the movement of components to various areas around the launch complex.

Figure 2. Close up of new rail spur near existing rail line, leading to new probably horizontal assembly building. Image © 2024 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].

Other Activity

Little progress has been made at the new horizontal assembly building since April, except for a new road being added that connects the building to the tunnel.

Additionally, previously observed arch supports are now being put into place ahead of the tunnel entrance.

Figure 3. Activity near new probable horizontal assembly building and west tunnel entrance. Image © 2024 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
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