A new report from American researchers paints a worrying picture, revealing that North Korea has been secretly operating a major missile base. This hidden facility, tucked away near the Chinese border, holds a stash of intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, along with their mobile launch platforms. It’s a discovery that raises alarms for the safety of both East Asia and the United States.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C. released their findings on August 21, 2025. They identified the secret base near Sinpung-dong, a mere 27 kilometers from China’s boundary. Experts believe this site alone could house up to nine nuclear-tipped ICBMs, ready to be moved and fired at a moment’s notice.
This Sinpung-dong base isn’t a one-off. It’s thought to be one of between 15 to 20 secret missile bases and nuclear warhead storage spots that North Korea has never told anyone about. CSIS pieced together this puzzle using a mix of satellite images, interviews with people who escaped North Korea, old secret government papers, and publicly available information.
The scale of this operation is significant. The Sinpung-dong site stretches over 22 square kilometers, making it larger than New York’s JFK Airport. It’s nestled in a narrow valley with a stream running through it. This particular location, so close to China, isn’t an accident. Experts suggest it acts like a shield. If the U.S. or South Korea ever thought about attacking it, they’d have to worry about hitting China by mistake.
Professor Leif-Erik Easley from Ewha University in Seoul agrees. He explained that North Korea might be using this proximity to China to create political risk. This strategy aims to deter any potential attacks against their facilities. It’s a clever, if dangerous, move.
Work on the Sinpung-dong base began way back in 2004, and it became fully operational by 2014. It’s not just sitting there; North Korea keeps maintaining and improving it even now. The missiles stored there are likely Hwasong-15 or Hwasong-18 models, possibly even newer ones that haven’t been shown to the public yet. The key is their mobile launchers. These allow the missiles to be fired and then quickly moved to a different spot, making them harder to track and hit.
The report serves as a stark warning. These hidden missiles could pose a nuclear threat to countries across East Asia and to the U.S. itself. Under Kim Jong Un’s leadership, North Korea has been pushing hard to develop advanced weapons. They’ve tested ICBMs many times, openly breaking international rules and United Nations sanctions.