N. Korea nears completion of much larger missile launch pad

The South Korean government has learned that North Korea is completing the construction of a launch pad capable of accommodating a projectile larger than the Unha-3 long-range rocket, which was launched in December 2012, sources said Wednesday.

"The construction of a launch pad slightly shorter than 60 meters in height at the Tongchang-ri missile base in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province," a South Korean government official said. "We are paying attention to the fact that launch pad which was expanded after the Un-ha-3`s launch has become higher." Just by the height, the launch pad can be mounted with a projectile twice as high as the Unha-3, which was presumed to be a 30-meter-high intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 13,000 kilometers.

Another official said, "North Korea conducted several high-explosive tests this year, more than it did in previous years. The North is continuing to carry out experiments to increase the missile range and explosive power."

The South believes that the North has significantly advanced its technology for reducing the size of nuclear warheads. Pyongyang is also known to have conducted several tests to enhance the performance of missile engines.

A military official in Seoul noted that although no North Korean projectile that surpasses the Unha-2`s specifications has been confirmed, the significantly heightened launch pad indicates that the range and weight of a new long-range missile the North is developing have been increased. The official suggested that the long-range missile the North is trying to launch has larger fuel and engine capacities.

Seoul believes that it is highly likely for the North to attempt to launch an inter-continental ballistic missile with an increased range and higher explosiveness. Many observers in Seoul think that Pyongyang will likely launch a long-range rocket late this year or early next year. However, no sign of an imminent launch – mounting a rocket on the launch pad -- has been detected.