Inside North Korea’s secretive missile programme - never before seen photos emerge
NORTH Korea’s missile programme has been revealed for the first time in a series of never-before-seen photos.
New photos of North Korea have revealed the missile system as never before
The hermit state released the pictures in a celebratory video released after this month’s controversial missile launch.
The launch took place on July 4 and saw Kim Jong-un’s rogue state successfully fire a inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time.
The video highlighting North Korea's programme was shown midway through a victory concert attended by the pot-bellied dictator.
The 190 photos show the early development of North Korea’s missile programme, beginning with Kim il-Sung.
He is shown peering at unsophisticated military hardware before the video focuses on the leadership of his son Kim Jong-il and grand-son Kim Jong-un.
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One of the more recent photos highlighted a complex new engine design, a development sure to set alarm bells ringing in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo.
The Hwasong-10's engine marks a sharp change from the previous reliance on the more basic Scud and Nodong engines.
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The video also highlighted the first ever footage of a missile ejection stand from ground level at the high-security Sinpo South Naval Shipyard, with a pleased looking Kim Jong-un walking around the site.
Sinpo is believed to be the location for this month’s ICBM launch and the footage will help experts determine how North Korea so rapidly accelerated their missile programme.
Kim Jong-un in front of a large North Korean missile
Other pictures in the clip showed huge missiles, new launch towers, and previously unseen footage of the three leaders.
The video comes after yet more sabre-rattling from North Korea.
This week they threatened to launch a pre-emptive strike against the USA as part of a grisly tribute to the 64th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War.
Kim Jong-un stars in the montage of North Korea's missile programme
Pak Yong-sik, the minister of North Korea's armed forces, said: “If enemies misunderstand our strategic status and stick to options of staging a pre-emptive nuclear attack against us, we will launch a nuclear attack on America's heart as the most relentless punishment without warning or prior notice."