New Images Reveal North Korean Bomber Base

Previously, I had located only one North Korean airfield with strategic bombers, in the far northwest, near Sinuiju. Today, new Google Earth imagery reveals that another airfield in North Korea’s remote central highlands is also home to a bomber squadron. (I suspect that there are more bombers at a third airfield in the southwest, but I haven’t seen the bombers there yet.)

The airfield was visible in high resolution in previous images, but no aircraft were visible. Presumably, they were either at other locations, or more likely, in storage in underground hangars. In these new images, 27 Ilyushin Il-28 “Beagle” bombers are clearly visible at the end of the runway.

The Il-28 is an ancient aircraft; it first flew in 1948 and first entered in service in 1950, the year the Korean War began. The Soviet Air Force grounded its last Beagles in the 1980’s. Only a few of the old bombers are still in service today, with North Korea being one of the last countries to possess them in large numbers. The Chinese built their own Beagles under license as the Harbin H-5, some of which are still visible with Google Earth on Chicom airfields.

North of the airfield, we see the standard underground hangars.

Just west of the airfield, there is a small town where we see something not at all standard.

What do you suppose they’re doing?