North Korea Hit One Of Their Own Cities With A Missile

A recent report from The Diplomat details the stockpile of evidence that North Korea's own missile landed on one of their populated cities. The mishap occurred on April 28, 2017, when North Korea launched a single ballistic missile (IRBM) from Puckchang Airfield in South Pyongan Province.

The missile was launched from the Korean People’s Army’s Air and Anti-Air Force Unit 447 in Ryongak-dong, Sunchon City and failed shortly after. The missile then crashed into the Chongsin-dong, in the North Korean city of Tokchon. The failed missile caused considerable damage to a complex of industrial or agricultural buildings.

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<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Credit: The Diplomat</span>

According to a U.S. government source who closely follows North Korea's weapons program, the missile's first stage engines failed after approximately one minute of powered flight which resulted in a catastrophic failure. North Korea's Strategic Rocket Force has opened several new missile testing sites to flex its might.

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<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Credit: The Diplomat</span>

Thanks to some handy research work by The Diplomat, they were able to geolocate where scenes from the April 28 test were filmed proving they were at the southeastern entrance of the underground hangar at Pukchang Airfield. Kim Jong Un can be seen in images with clearly identifiable objects and locations in the background identifying this location.

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<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Credit: The Diplomat</span>

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What we also know is the missile flew approximately 39 km to the northeast where it struck a complex in a small town of Tokchon. Sattelite images suggest damage right where the missile should have failed according to calculations that took into account velocity and time in the air.

<img src="https://media.8ch.net/file_store/85363587fb985968b132e0aa29fd1fe4f2e45233838345c7de3850174a91427c.png" style="max-height:640px;max-width:360px;">

<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Credit: The Diplomat</span>

The damage is fairly extensive and is visible to the naked eye but given the time of day and the location is unlikely any human lives were lost. Since missiles like the Hwasong-12 use a highly volatile combination of hypergolic propellant and oxidizer it is quite possible a huge explosion would have occurred on impact.

Despite the risk to human life, economic and agricultural damage, Kim Jong Un is set on continuing to launch missiles over Japanese territory.

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Source: https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/when-a-north-korean-missile-accidentally-hit-a-north-korean-city/