Colin Zwirko Profile picture
Senior Analytic Correspondent @NKNewsOrg

Jul 7, 2021, 10 tweets

Previously unreleased footage of a North Korean missile test released in a new film July 3 on KCTV (of the observation bunker, not test itself)

Most likely one of the failed Hwasong-12 tests at Sinpho in April 2017. How I came to this conclusion below:

First of all, no previously publicized test footage/pics match this particular bunker/scene/attire.

Narrator says it's right after the March 18, 2017 rocket engine test.

Big clue is a missile trajectory map on Kim Jong Un's desk, looked like Wonsan at first but likely Sinpho

Here's this map compared to Aug 24 2016 Pukguksong-1 test off Sinpho (top) and May 29 2017 missile test from Wonsan (below). Distortion/angle plays a part, but it's other evidence which also helps pinpoint Sinpho

Most obvious was this lighthouse, but I tried and couldn't find ground photos or drawings that matched it. Environmental surroundings match this to east of Sinpho though (40.031422° 128.327790°)
Note lighthouse curving path, tall rocky location of it, permanent roads

Lighthouse resource here helped narrow it down, and it was helpfully mapped by @JacobBogle

I kept finding the famous Yeonpyeong-do lighthouse when searching, and it looks quite similar (but that's South Korea)
ibiblio.org/lighthouse/prk…

@nktpnd helped me rule out the failed March 22 2017 missile test from Wonsan-Kalma airport (the soonest after the rocket engine test which the narrator mentioned) since the observation spot was apparently at the airport for that one 38north.org/2017/04/jbermu…

He also pointed me to this previous instance of failed Apr 2017 test pics being released, and these don't really match this new footage either. Those were much more revelatory anyway than this latest

To get weirder down the rabbit hole, I could only spot these same TV stands and KJU's especially ornamental desk in 1 other observation bunker, from the Aug 24 2016 Sinpho test.

However, stranger still, I couldn't find that particular chair anywhere else, it's really unique

In the end, not sure what value comes of this other than just being able to see which officials were with Kim Jong Un on the day of a failed missile test. Oh and we get to see his 1st gen Volkswagen Touareg SUV up close, didn't see this pointed out before
nknews.org/2021/07/north-…

For now I'm not gonna try to ID every official, though we see Ri Pyong Chol who was heading the Hwasong program

(also the VW Touareg, pre-2010 model, was also seen at the March 18 rocket engine test on the opposite coast in Sohae)

Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.

A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.

Keep scrolling