North Korea camouflages launch sites near elite residences in Pyongyang, signaling a shift in missile test preparations. Recent satellite images reveal two new concrete pads in Samsok district, replacing demolished villages. These pads, shaped like cul-de-sacs, appear designed for short-range or medium-range missile launches. By early May, workers had partially covered the roads and pads with soil. Analysts suggest this could either deceive observers or serve Kim Jong Un’s aesthetic preferences.
Planet Labs imagery captured between late April and early May shows darkened terrain and burn marks around the western launch pad. This resembles past signs of recent missile activities, though no launch has been officially reported. South Korea has not confirmed tests from this site, although the military often omits certain smaller launches. Cruise missile launches and MLRS tests have historically gone unreported or underreported by Seoul. Despite no formal announcements, signs increasingly suggest launch rehearsals already occurred.
North Korea camouflages launch sites across multiple locations, blending them into landscapes like gardens or golf courses. A nearby guesthouse, known unofficially as the “Azalia Guest House,” has hosted several long-range missile tests. Between April 2023 and October 2024, Kim personally oversaw six such events from this compound. Two MLRS launches also occurred nearby in early 2024, using reinforced, grass-covered pads. This pattern aligns with recent landscaping at the new pads west of the guesthouse.
Construction also appears underway at another Kim family mansion near the river’s edge, not far from the newer pads. Since March, workers have modified a pond and begun preparing a new building site beside it. Analysts believe the large cleared area between the two riverside homes may become a training ground. Satellite imagery suggests oval tracks are being laid, likely for military vehicle exercises. North Korea camouflages launch sites not only for deception, but also to expand training operations.
Beyond Pyongyang, North Korea continues its strategy of masking missile sites to appear non-military. In January, a hypersonic missile launched from a grassy riverside park north of Samsok. Months earlier, satellite images identified a golf course-like launch area in southern Pyongyang. These disguised sites allow Kim to conduct provocative tests without immediate detection. As tensions rise, North Korea camouflages launch sites with increasing sophistication and frequency, making monitoring efforts more difficult.
