Major new construction is underway at a large North Korean military training base east of the capital, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, as reports emerge of plans to send more troops to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Planet Labs imagery shows excavation work started in the second week of January covering about 37 acres (15 hectares) inside a valley in Kangdong. The same grounds were used for large-scale tank and paratrooper infiltration exercises last March. 

While the ultimate purpose of the construction is not yet clear, it is likely related to the construction of new obstacles or buildings for use during upcoming drills, and could be directly related to preparations for combat in Russia or Ukraine.

The base is one of North Korea’s largest and most active recently, and while leader Kim Jong Un decided to publish photos of drills at the site last March — without naming its location — satellite imagery shows more exercises have taken place there in the last year.

For example, large targets or craters indicative of artillery or air raid drills appeared on the mountainsides surrounding the central grounds of the base between April 29 and May 1, and again between May 4 and 10 and then in the first week of July. 

Obstacle course roads for tank driving drills were also expanded from mid-September to mid-October.

The first evidence of the latest construction project appeared last November, and by as early as Nov. 28 a rectangular outline, possibly marking building foundations, was visible.

State media reported the tank and paratrooper drills last March were geared toward preparing for war with South Korea. Evidence has yet to emerge of North Korea utilizing tanks or paratroopers against Ukraine, but there have been reports of “wave” attacks using hundreds of soldiers like during the infiltration drills.

MORE PLANNED DRILLS BY MISSILE LAUNCH SITE?

A village of homes was also demolished in the last month next to another similarly large military base along the Taedong River in eastern Pyongyang, NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs imagery shows, possibly ahead of drills or some other new construction.

The location is home to a launchpad used for numerous intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and hypersonic missile launches in recent years, as well as a large, separate area with manicured lawns built for a salvo launch of short-range missiles. 

These all surround a large mansion referred to in some past publications as the ruling Kim family’s Jindallae Guesthouse, as well as smaller villas and even a three-hole golf course. 

Construction workers appeared to start clearing the giant 370-acre (150-hectare) area of riverside land in March 2024, just after Kim Jong Un stood on the grounds to observe the salvo missile launch.

Large oval and circular dirt roads soon appeared covering the grounds, with possible military vehicles seen using them. The roads became less visible later in the year, and from Nov. 2024 to Jan. 2025, there didn’t appear to be any major changes to the landscape.

But in a sign that work on transforming the site isn’t yet finished, Planet Labs satellite imagery shows that over a hundred homes at the edge of the apparent training grounds were razed in the second half of December. Work continued throughout January to cover the village in dirt. 

This could be either to prepare to construct something else in their place — even other new homes, as has been the case at rural housing project sites across the country in recent years — or to merely conceal a dangerous and sensitive area from residents.

Since North Korea has dozens of large-scale military training bases in other, more secluded locations, it’s likely that Kim Jong Un chose this spot for its close proximity to a number of his mansions, so he can comfortably oversee drills in beautified surroundings, like many missile tests in the last few years.

It could also point to plans to publicize future exercises at this spot, as state media is expected to report on a number of drills this year like it usually does.

Meanwhile, satellite imagery shows winter river-crossing military drills were once again taking place this week just up the river and next to another new missile launchpad used for a hypersonic missile test last month. 

Multiple lines appeared cutting into the icy Taedong River in Planet Labs imagery taken on Feb. 3, matching the appearance of confirmed drills in the same spot in higher resolution imagery in the past, and even state media photos of exercises involving blowing up surface ice, driving tanks through the water and building pontoon bridges.

Edited by Alannah Hill