DPRK naval bases near Baengnyong Island

The South Korean naval ship Cheonan sank just south west of Baengnyong Island…

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Click image for larger version.

Many now suspect that the DPRK was involved in the sinking.  The DPRK has rejected any involvement.

There are a number of DPRK naval facilities in the area.  Here are some satellite images of them:

Cho Island (Chodo)

cho-do-2.jpg

Click the image for a larger version.  Coorinates: 38°30’15.42″N, 124°52’0.42″E. You can see it in Wikimapia here.

Sagon-ri Naval Base (probable)

sagon-ri-2.jpg

Click image for larger version.  Coordinates: 37°49’20.55″N, 125°20’38.49″E. You can see it in Wikimapia here.

Ryongho Island: Dock and underground port

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Click image for larger version.  Coordinates: 37°48’23.85″N, 125°21’3.36″E. You can see it in Wikimapia here.

Sunwi Island: Underground port

sunwido-2.jpg

Click image for larger version.  Coordinates: 37°46’11.29″N, 125°20’3.26″E.  You can see it on Wikimapia here.

Haeju Naval Base

kpn-haeju-2.jpg

Click image for larger version.  Coordinates: 38° 0’0.89″N, 125°43’4.35″E.  You can see it on Wikimapia here.

Pipagot Naval Facility

pipagot-2.jpg

Click for a larger version. Coordinates: 38°35’40.17″N, 124°58’38.49″E. You can see it on Wikimapia here.

Unnamed Naval Facility

unnamed-kpn-case-2.jpg

Click image for larger version.  Coordinates: 37°54’32.24″N, 125°14’32.43″E. You can see it in Wikimapia here.

These were picked up by the South Korean media.

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4 Responses to “DPRK naval bases near Baengnyong Island”

  1. Expat says:

    Hi,
    the south is playing the whole sinking issue very well. If the UN doesn’t give satisfaction I’d expect a very limited strike by the ROK and US on Naval targets.
    Btw,
    If you look to the west of Ryongho you can also see a wide slipway that leads from what look like blast doors in a cliff. Why do you call Sagon-ri ‘probable’?

  2. Dafydd Green says:

    Could this site be the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center that the KCNA discussed on the 27/5/10? They don’t mention a location (maybe you know it?) but are proud enough to tell us all about it. If it is, what do you think the likelihood is that there might be a shift towards ‘generous’ diplomacy by damaging the Cheonan and then heading out to rescue it? It is conceivable that the center was operational a month ago, and it might have been a way of trying to give a smile to diplomacy by saving navy soldiers. Stranger things have happened on that peninsula…