Other names: Kŭmch'ŏn-ri Missile Base, Kumcheon-ri Missile Base, Kumcheon Missile Base
Location: Kŭmch'ŏn-ri (金泉里), Anbyŏn-kun (安邊郡), Kangwŏn Province (江原道), North Korea
Subordinate to: Missile Division (미사일 師團), Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (人民武力省), National Defense Commission (國防委員會) [Note: the Missile Division under the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces has been operating all missile bases after the 1998 merger of the Scud Missile Regiment and the Nodong Missile Battalion into the Missile Division.]
Primary Function: Deployment and launch of Scud missiles
Description: North Korea reportedly began construction of the Kŭmch'ŏn missile base in 1992 or 1993, and construction of the base was reportedly nearing completion in March 2001. According to US and South Korean military authorities, the base has an underground launch facility and tunnels for transporting the missiles. The Chosun Ilbo reports that Kŭmch'ŏn is a base for Hwasŏng-6 [Scud-C] missiles; however, other reports only say it is a "Scud missile" base. [Note: Given that the Hwasŏng-5 and Hwasŏng-6 have the same dimensions, it appears likely that the facility is technically capable of handling both missiles.
 |
| |
Updated April 2003 |
|
Key Sources:
Kang Ho Shik, "Puk Missile Chŭngga Chŏllyŏk Chŏnjinbaech'i Anp'akk," Kyunghyang Shinmun, 5 March 2001, p. 3, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>; Kim Min Sŏk, "Puk Scud Missiler Kiji Chŭngsŏl," Joongang Ilbo, 5 March 2001, p. 2, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>; Kang Ho Shik, "Puk Scud Missile Kiji Chŭngsŏl," Kyunghyang Shinmun, 5 March 2001, p. 1, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>; Chu Yong Chung, "Sajŏng 500km Scud C Missile 200 Ki," Chosun Ilbo, 29 September 1999, p. 1, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>; Kim Chong Hun, "99 Kukbangbaeksŏ Palp'yo - Pukpyŏngnyŏk Manmyŏng Nŭl'ŏ 117 Manmyŏng," Kyunghyang Shinmun, 13 October 1999, p. 3, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>; Kim Yŏng Bŏn, "Puk Hwahangmugi 5,000t Poyu," Munhwa Ilbo, 13 October 1999, p. 30, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>; "Buk, Hwangbuk Tŏ'gol Tŭng 6 Kot Scud Missile Kiji Kongsa," Yonhap News Agency, 26 October 1999, <http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr>; Kim Min Sŏk, "Puk Missile Kiji Kyesok Chŭngsŏl," Joongang Ilbo, 5 March 2001, <http://www.joins.com/>.
