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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
North Korea-focused journalist/researcher
@NorthKoreaTech
@38NorthNK
. Senior Fellow
@stimsoncenter
. On the air as KJ6SDF. 英国➡️日本➡️米国
Washington, DChttp://www.northkoreatech.orgJoined April 2007
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Martyn Williams’s Tweets

Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
CSIS has an update on Sunchon, which we're also following. We saw these planes in mid-April, and think they are from storage at the base rather than the more significant return from other airports. CSIS agrees, despite the confusing "Aircraft Return to Sunchon Airbase?" headline.
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CSIS Korea Chair
@CSISKoreaChair
Recent satellite imagery acquired on May 1, 2023, shows that the ongoing modernization and expansion project at the Korean Peoples’ Air and Air Defense Force (KPAF)’s Sunchon Airbase is nearing completion. Significantly, the imagery shows the presence of ten aircraft—the first… Show more
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Just published by my colleagues: North Korea's 5 MWe reactor appears to be shutdown. If for refueling, the used fuel could be sent to reprocessing. Estimates some 5-8 kilograms of new weapons-grade plutonium is possible.
38north.org
Possible Refueling at Yongbyon’s 5 MWe Reactor - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center indicates that cooling water discharge—observed with a few…
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Kim had said he wanted the milsat preparations completed "by April" and today KCNA reported that happened. Next step? He ordered "a non-permanent satellite-launching preparatory committee" to make sure it "will be launched at the planned date."
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
And in this image, the carrier rocket on the left is one we have never seen before. It is being presented alongside the military reconnaissance satellite so could it be the launch rocket? It has a larger fairing at the top to accommodate a larger satellite.
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
The one in the foreground looks like a bit like Kwangmyongsong-3, launched in 2012 (below), but it could be different. We've never seen Kwangmyongsong-4, launched in 2016, which might be the other satellite.
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
It looks like it has four solar panels there are stored along the edge of the satellite for launch and opened in orbit. These images are obviously too blurry to infer too much. When Kim looked around an exhibit room, there were a couple of satellite models on display.
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Kim Jong Un's visit to the North Korean space agency today revealed some tantalizing hints about what's coming up. Some notes: NK had already stated it is planning a military reconnaissance satellite launch and Kim was briefed on it, judging by the title here:
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Martyn Williams Retweeted
Scott LaFoy
@wslafoy
For the DPRK: Six years from 1st (liquid) ICBM flight to 1st solid ICBM flight. 7/8 years from 1st major solid motor test to solid ICBM flight. Outside of the US & USSR, that's the fastest any country has developed a solid ICBM. India did it in 13, China in 19, France in 21.
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Information about this morning's North Korean missile launch is coming out much slower than normal. Over an hour later and still no word on launch site, splashdown area, flight profile and even whether it was more than one.
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Absoutely incredible that this is held up as an example: North Korean propaganda idolizes an 18yo who worked herself to death on a construction site after undergoing "emergency surgery" in the name of Kim Jong Un and his orders.
nknews.org
North Korea says ‘virgin girl soldier’ died for Kim Jong Un at construction site | NK News
North Korean state media has heaped praise upon an 18-year-old “virgin girl soldier” who died from overwork while fulfilling Kim Jong Un’s orders to carry out rapid construction on a greenhouse last...
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Nine years on from a famous image of North Korea at night, I took a new look. The country is still so much darker than its neighbors, but there are faint glimmers of light from some of Kim Jong Un's key economic projects:
38north.org
A Fresh Look at North Korea at Night - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
In January 2014, astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) took a photo that dramatically illustrated the economic divide…
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
While we wait for the promised North Korean military surveillance satellite launch, the country appears to have launched a broad project to develop civilian satellite technology and will meet quarterly to assess its progress.
northkoreatech.org
North Korea Launches New Civilian Satellite Push
North Korea appears to have launched a broad project to develop civilian satellite technology and will meet quarterly to assess its progress. The project was disclosed last week when state media...
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Satellite imagery from earlier today over North Korea shows Sunchon Airfield is close to reopening. It's close to Pyongyang and home to the country's most modern military aircraft. It will be one of the most important military airfields in the country.
38north.org
Sunchon Airfield Renovations Nearing Completion - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
Commercial satellite imagery indicates that after two years of construction, one of North Korea’s largest military airfields appears close to…
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Yesterday's North Korean Internet site outage explained. Event lasted about 4 hours before connectivity returned, explains
@DougMadory
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Doug Madory
@DougMadory
North Korea websites went offline last night for 4hrs. en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN202303 Two North Korean prefixes were withdrawn, one hosts the TLD nameservers for .kp causing North Korean websites to not resolve. (@kentikinc BGP viz attached, H/T @martyn_williams)
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Martyn Williams Retweeted
Jenny Town
@j3nnyt0wn
For all the #NorthKorea watchers,
@38NorthNK
has compiled backgrounders on #DPRK's science and technology journals. These provide a sense of what issues are covered in each of the 41 journals available overseas. The first 10 are up. Check them out!
38north.org
North Korea's Science and Technology Journals - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
Studying North Korea’s academic journals can provide valuable insights into the country’s thoughts about its own trajectory—what ideas are being…
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
The second in my series on North Korean electric power generation looks at solar policies, government research and solar panel production. At least two institutions are engaged in R&D and domestic panels are being produced at two places.
38north.org
North Korea's Energy Sector: State Solar Electricity Research and Manufacturing - 38 North:...
In this second installment of our series on North Korea’s energy sector, we will examine the evolution of solar energy…
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Japan's Defense Ministry says the missile was launched from North Korea at 0709 (1809EDT) this morning and is in flight. It is predicted to come down around 0818 (1908 EDT) in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) about 550kms east of the Korean peninsula, outside of Japan's EEZ - NHK
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Martyn Williams
@martyn_williams
Japan's NHK reporting that the country's Defense Ministry says a missile launched from North Korea this morning could be on a lofted trajectory and hadn't come down as of 0740 (1840 EDT)
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