Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Expansion of Road and Rail Infrastructure Continues
As springtime brings warmer weather and softer ground, work to expand the road and rail infrastructure throughout North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station continues. Recent commercial satellite imagery indicates that efforts to cut a new road, or possible rail bed, connecting the east tunnel entrance with the coastal launch pad and southern seaport are underway, which could allow for vehicles or launch materials to easily travel to and from the various parts of the complex.
No known satellite launches have been attempted since the failed launch of the Malligyong-1-1 reconnaissance satellite in May 2024. Despite South Korean intelligence reports in late 2024 that North Korea likely received cooperation from Russia and appeared ready to conduct another launch, Pyongyang has made no launch notifications to relative authorities, and there are no typical indicators of an imminent launch observed at the site. Pyongyang announced plans in 2024 to place three reconnaissance satellites into orbit, but failed to achieve that goal. Whether efforts to complete that plan will be resumed or a new target number of satellite launches will be announced for 20215 remains to be seen.
New Roads
Notably, a new road segment is under construction that will connect the east tunnel entrance to the coastal road that leads to the coastal launch pad and seaport. It is possible that this roadway will connect all the way up to the new assembly building. The new road will remove the need to make a tight turn when exiting the tunnel, making it easier for larger vehicles to travel throughout the site.
Slightly south of the east tunnel entrance, the coastal roadway is being widened. The road sits atop a berm. Construction machinery can be observed dumping earth to the side of the berm to widen the top.
The work appears to be linked to the new road construction. While the exact nature of the activity is unclear, it is likely these efforts will result in a widened road or could serve as the basis for additional railway tracks. There are no current indicators suggesting the connection of the new assembly building and the seaport by rail, but if this is the goal, further tunnelling throughout the site’s mountainous terrain is probable.
New Assembly Building
After roof trusses were installed in October 2024, the first signs of the roof installation were visible on imagery from November 21. By December 2, roofing was completed on the largest section of the building, which remains the only covered portion on imagery from March 13, 2025.
Track accommodations have been installed to allow for SLV components to enter the building via rail.
Around the new assembly building, the planned flow of rail traffic is becoming clear. It appears rail cars entering the Sohae Satellite Launching Station will sweep past the building on a yet-to-be-built curved section of track and then come to a halt before backing into the building via a side track connected to the rail spur from the main rail line.
VIP Observation and Control Area
Little has changed at the VIP Observation Area that Kim Jong Un used to view the May 2024 satellite launch. It appears there will be an inclined entryway on the building’s west side. The purpose of this—and the extent to which this area is to be utilized—is unclear.
Seaport
The jetty extension progresses at the southern seaport. Imagery from March indicates that workers are using large concrete blocks to form the edge and widen the jetty. Several vehicles are observed. The activity is likely intended to form a jetty dock to allow for deeper draft vessels to be unloaded.
Main Launch Pad
The main launch pad remains quiet. While not used for a launch since 2016, work around the pad’s infrastructure began in 2022 as part of the site-wide modernization efforts. That year, fuel/oxidizer bunkers were demolished, and work began on replacements along with the early stages of installing new tracks to the tunnel under the launch pad. To date, both of these projects remain incomplete and no further progress has been observed.
Coastal Launch Pad
No significant activity is observed at the coastal launch pad.