NORTH KOREA — Satellite images have located 13 of an estimated 20 undeclared missile operating bases in North Korea.<br /><br />Specifically, the Sakkanmol missile base, which is around 85 miles from Seoul, is shown in satellite images to be located amidst mountainous terrain.<br /><br />The Sakkanmol missile base includes barracks, underground facilities to house the transporter-erector-launches (TELs) or mobile-erector-launchers (MELs), and vehicle maintenance and storage, according to a study by a Washington think tank.<br /><br />Satellite images also show the base's checkpoint, headquarters building, maintenance depots and entrances to underground tunnels that could potentially hide the missiles and the trucks that transport them.<br /><br />The missile operating bases are not launch facilities. However, missiles could be launched from there in an event of an emergency.<br /><br />Victor Cha, a prominent North Korean expert, claims the missile bases are actively in use and are not "decaying."<br /><br />This comes amid reports that North Korea was dismantling a key missile site in July.
