The South Korean naval ship Cheonan sank just south west of Baengnyong Island…
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)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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’?
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…