Land Clearance Could Signal Drone Base Expansion
Clearance of agricultural land at North Korea’s main drone development and testing base could signal plans to expand the facility. Commercial satellite imagery shows work to clear a plot of agricultural land adjacent to existing hangars began in early September, following general upgrades to the facility that took place over the summer. Panghyon is closely linked with North Korea’s aviation industry and its relatively new drone development program. This clearance activity is just one of several projects currently underway in the area, highlighting the importance of this facility within the country’s drone program development.
Panghyon Area
The Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex is one of several related facilities around Panghyon, North Phyongan province.
The complex is located at Panghyon Airfield (also called Kusong Airfield) and is adjacent to an aircraft maintenance area. About 3 kilometers to the southeast is the Panghyon Fabrication/Assembly plant and a little further beyond that is the Panghyon Aircraft Factory, protected by hills.
An unidentified new facility is currently under construction alongside the fabrication/assembly plant.
Drone Base
The drone facility has been slowly expanded since hangars to accommodate large drones began appearing in 2024. The most recent addition was a probable manufacturing hall; its roof was installed over the summer.
Several taxiways on the airfield and an apron have been recently resurfaced, but the main runway has not been touched.
Since the beginning of September, work has been underway to clear an area that sits between the rear of two hangars and a taxiway. It is unclear if this is for further construction, but is worth monitoring.
New Facility
Additional construction is also underway at a new, large, unidentified facility immediately to the south of the Panghyon Assembly Plant.
The foundations for several new buildings were added over the summer. The majority of buildings on the site, including three large halls, do not yet have roofs, and the site is not likely to be completed until at least 2027.
Panghyon Aircraft Factory
Notable work at the Panghyon Aircraft Factory includes the demolition of a small structure at the southern end of the facility.
Major work on several new manufacturing halls was completed earlier this year. The demolition of the small building opens up a large space for an additional manufacturing hall, should managers desire it.