Location: Pyongyang (平壤市), North Korea

Subordinate to: Second Natural Science Institute (第2 自然科學院), National Defense Commission (國防委員會)

Primary Function: Research and development of missiles; production and tests of missile prototypes

Description: There are conflicting reports and scarce information about the San'ŭm-dong Research and Development Center. The first reference to this facility in open sources appears to be in March 1994, when Jane's Defence Weekly reported that a "missile simulator" and other weapons hardware were discovered by US satellite imagery the previous month at this location. Subsequent reports have placed the facility in the Pyongyang area, as well as on North Korea's northeast coast.

Some reports have said the facility is in "Namgŭng-ri" near Pyongyang. However, the precise locations of "San'ŭm-dong" and "Namgŭng-ri" in the Pyongyang area are unconfirmed. One possibility is that "San'ŭm-dong" is a reference to an old name during the Japanese colonial period that no longer exists. There were two places called "San'ŭm-ri" in Yŏkp'o-kuyŏk and Sun'an-kuyŏk of present day Pyongyang. Another possibility is that the location is actually "San'ŏp-dong," which could be misunderstood or mispronounced as "San'ŭm-dong." San'ŏp-dong is in Sŏn'gyo-kuyŏk, Pyongyang. There is also a San'ŏp-dong in P'ohang-kuyŏk (浦項區域), Ch'ŏngjin (淸津市), North Hamgyŏng Province (咸鏡北道), which is about 100-150km from the Musudan-ri Missile Test Site.

Defector Kim Kil son believes the San'ŭm-dong facility might be another name for the "No. 7 Factory" in Yongsŏng-kuyŏk, Pyongyang, which Kim says produces missile prototypes and conducts performance tests. However, the Federation of American Scientists believes the San'ŭm-dong facility could be the No. 125 Factory in Hyŏngjesan-kuyŏk, Pyongyang.

	Updated April 2003

Key Sources:
Kim Kil Sŏn interview with Daniel A. Pinkston, senior research associate, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, 10 April 2001, Seoul; Kim Kil Sŏn interview with Daniel A. Pinkston, senior research associate, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, 23 August 2001, Seoul; Barbara Starr, "N Korea Casts a Longer Shadow with TD-2," Jane's Defence Weekly, 12 March 1994, p. 1; Robert Burns, "CIA Says North Developing Two New Ballistic Missiles," Associated Press, 18 March 1994, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Bill Gertz, "N. Korea Builds New Missiles," Washington Times, 19 March 1994, p. A3, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Lee Yŏng Jong, "Pukhan Missile Such'ul Chungdan'anhae – Han.Mijŏngbodangguk," Joongang Ilbo, 29 March 1999, p. 2, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Lee Yŏng Jong, "Puk Missile 'Hyŏpsang Ddaro' 'Such'ul Ddaro'," Joongang Ilbo, 29 March 1999, p. 5, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Yu Yong Wŏn, "Puk, 'Chaebalsa' Ŏddŏhke...Palsajunbiman 2~3 Chu Kŏllyŏ," Chosun Ilbo, 31 August 1999, p. 5, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Kim Yŏng Ch'ŏl, "85 Nyŏn Scud-B Sŏnggongdwi Sajŏnggŏri Nŭllyŏ/Puk Missile Kaebal Hyŏnhwang," Hankyoreh Shinmun, 1 September 1998, p. 2, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; "'Il Pont'o Chŏnyŏg'i Sajŏnggwŏn' Hyŏnshillo/Puk 'Taepodong 1 Ho' Kunsajŏk Wihyŏp," Kyunghyang Shinmun, 1 September 1998, p. 3, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; "Puk, Sajŏng 1 Man km Missile Kaebal/ 'Taepodong 2 Ho' Chŏngbo Russia'sŏ Ipsu," Taehan Maeil, 11 September 1995, p. 3, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Eya Osamu, Seimitsu: Sekaikikenchizu; Hanransuru Kitachosen (Tokyo: Tokuma Shoten, 1995), p. 212; Federation of American Scientists, "North Korea Special Weapons Guide," <http://www.fas.org>; Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough, "Inside The Ring," Washington Times, 17 December 1999, p. 11.