WASHINGTON -- North Korea is still not showing any concrete signs of preparations to launch a long-range rocket despite persisting speculation the communist nation could do so next month, a U.S. research institute said Thursday."While speculation that North Korea intends to launch a long-range space launch vehicle (SLV) on the 70th anniversary of the Korean Workers' Party in October continues, it is still not possible to determine whether Pyongyang will conduct such a launch using commercial satellite imagery," 38 North said in a report.
Satellite imagery taken of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station from August 27 to September 1 show that a movable structure on the launch pad, which is designed to transfer rocket stages and components to the gantry tower, has shifted back and forth, but it is hard to see that as a sign of launch preparations, it said.
"That movement may have occurred for a number of reasons ranging from testing the recently completed movable structure to launch preparations. Besides the fact that the general low level of activity throughout the facility suggests a launch is not going to occur over the next few weeks, in the case of a possible October launch, it is probably still too soon to move the SLV to the gantry," it said.
Should the North intend to launch a rocket, there would be indicators of launch preparations for a few weeks, 38 North said, such as a significant increase in fuel loading and pressure testing activity at the fuel and oxidizer building.
Recent imagery also showed construction at the vertical engine test stand that will allow the testing of larger, more capable rocket engines is proceeding rapidly. That work, however, "is unrelated to the question of whether the North will conduct a new launch in the near future," it said.