Special to WorldTribune.com

Bill Gertz, Inside the Ring, Washington Times

North Korea has developed an elaborate underground missile complex at its Sohae missile and space launch facility near the northwestern border with China, according to U.S. officials.

The underground complex includes both facilities for preparing missiles for launch and storage areas that are connected by rail lines, according to officials familiar with intelligence reports of the complex. The secret facility took over a decade to build and is an example of Pyongyang’s capability at tunneling and building secret below-ground military facilities.

The complex is creating problems for U.S. intelligence agencies charged with providing warning time for missile launches. In the past, North Korean missiles and space launchers were transported by open rail cars and constructed and fueled for days, allowing U.S. spy satellites, aircraft and ships to keep close watch.

Now, the underground complex allows the North Koreans to conduct mating of stages without U.S. monitoring. The Sohae complex was used for two space launches that the Pentagon said were in reality long-range missile tests disguised as rocket launches in 2012. Intelligence agencies are reporting with high confidence that North Korea is preparing for another launch for Sohae in the coming weeks.

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