DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH KOREAN AIR FACILITIES DURING 1972

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010030-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2011
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: June 1, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

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PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION (:ENTER
DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH KOREAN AIR
FACILITIES DURING 1972
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JUNE 1973
COPY NQ:. 2
11 PAGES
PI R-018/73
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DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH KOREAN
AIR FACILITIES DURING 1972
1. This report includes information on jet-capable airfields,
highway and training airfields, transport and utility airfields,
and the Chongjin North Korean Air Force Academy. The report is
derived from KEYHOLE photography dating from January 1972 and
contains text, three maps, five photographs, and three tables.
2. The North Korean Air Force continues to improve its air
facilities. There are 22 jet-capable fields in North Korea
(Figure 1). Sixteen are operational, the status of one is unde-
termined, and five are under construction. Developments for the
period include: the opening of two new fields, the reconstruction
and lengthening of Sunan-up Airfield, extension of the runway
at Wonsan, construction of hangarettes and/or tunnels at nine of
the 16 operational jet-capable fields, and mid-to-late stage con-
struction of facilities continuing at four new jet-capable fields.
Construction has been completed on the runway and taxiway at
Koksan (Figure 2). However, tunnel construction continues. No
aircraft have been observed at Koksan Airfield to date; therefore
its status is undetermined. In addition, three new sod-surface
utility fields have become operational in the past year. Later
model and more sophisticated aircraft have also been added to the
inventory, and aircraft shipping crates have been observed at
several fields.
Facility Construction
3. Two new airfields have become operational during this
period. The paving of the runway at Hamhung Airfield (Figure 3)
was completed however, aircraft were
not observed here Currently it
is the only field on the east coast at which FISHBED aircraft are
deployed. Hamhung is the first newly constructed jet-capable
field to become operational in North Korea since May-June 1966.
Pungchon Airfield was observed to be complete and operational
with aircraft present Since that
date, only light to medium transport aircraft have been observed
periodically.
4. Major reconstruction is being accomplished at Sunan-up
Airfield (Figure 4). The old 2,700-meter (8,860-foot) concrete
runway has been removed, and a new 3,251-meter (11,554-foot)
concrete runway is now in a late stage of construction.
5. At Wonsan Airfield, the former 2,021-meter (6,630-foot)
runway has been extended to 2,313 meters (7,590 feet) and is now
operational.
6. Construction continues on four new jet-capable fields
initially identified prior to January 1972 and varies from mid-
to-late stage. Two of these fields -- Taetan and Hyon-ni -- are
within 45 nautical miles of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The
remaining two, Manpo-up and Hwangsuwon, are in the northern
sector of the country adjacent to the Sino-Korean border and the
northeast coast, respectively. (Continued p. 5)
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FIGURE 1. JET-CAPABLE AIRFIELDS IN NORTH KOREA (Item
numbers keyed to Table 1)
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Item
Geographic R
unway Le
ngth
Runway
Dummy/Decoy
Operational
No
Coordinates Met
ers
Feet
Orientation
Tunnels
Hangarettes
Aircraft Observed
Aircraft Observed
1 Sinmusong
41-54-20N 3,31
5
10,875
NE/SW
FAGOT/FRESCO
128.24-48E
2 Hoemun-ni
41-25-40N 2,50
0
8,205
NE/SW
3 (ucon)
--
FISHBED
FAGOT/FRESCO
129-39-01 E
MIDGET
3 Manpo-up*
41-08-OON 2,66
4
8,740
NNE/SSW
126-21-30E
4 wan~gsu o
40-40-40N 2,92
9
9,611
NW/SE
2 (poss
128-09-10E
ucon)
5 Chan 'in-u
40-21-48N 2,81
6
9,240
NNW/SSE
3
--
FISHBED
BEAGLE
127-15-58E
40-08-58N 2,50
5
8,220
NE/SW
3
--
BEAGLE
124-29-58E
39-59-58N 2,50
7
8,225
NNE/SSW
2 (ucon)
4 (2 ucon)
-
FISHBED
127-36-50E
8 Namsi
39-55-28N 2,49
9
8,200
NW/SE
3
--
FISHBED (prob)
FAGOT/FRESCO
F
125-12-23E
FAGOT/FRESCO
9 Taechon
39.54-01N 1,96
6
6,540
WNW/ESE
F
125-29-26E
10 Saamcham
39-45-03N 2,49
9
8,200
NE/SW
FISHBED
FARMER
125-54.14E
FAGOT/FRESCO
FAGOT/FRESCO
11
39-44-42N 2,49
9
8,200
N/S
FAGOT/FRESCO
127-2835E
12 Pukchan -ni
39-30-07N 2,52
7
8,290
NW/SE
6
-
FISHBED
FITTER
125-58-02E
FAGOT/FRESCO
FISHBED
FAGOT/FRESCO
39-24-29N 2,51
5
8,250
NW/SE
2 (ucon)
--
FISHBED
COOT CAB
125-53-39E
FAGOT/FRESCO
COKE COLT
CRATE HIP-C
14 Wonsan
39-09-54N 2,31
3
7,590
NNW/SSE
2
2 (ucon)
FISHBED
FAGOT/FRESCO
127-29-07E
FAGOT/FRESCO
39-11-56N 3,52
1
11,554
NNW/SSE
HIP-C
125-40.25E
COLT
HIP-C
HOUND
2
FISHBED
FARMER
FAGOT/FRESCO
2 (ucon)
Unid dummy acft
19 Hwan u
38-38-59N 2,49
9
8,200
WNW/ESE
2
2 (ucon)
FISHBED
FISHBED
125-47-30E
FAGOT/FRESCO
FAGOT/FRESCO
38-36-30N 2,68
2
8,800
NNE/SSW
1 (poss
127-27-20E
ucon)
38-25-35N 2,50
1
8,205
NW/SE
CUB
125-01-1OE
CAB
COLT
38-07-50E 2,43
8**
8,000
E/W
2 (prob
125-15.10E
ucon)
*Under construction,
**Definite end point of runway not observed on mensurable photography.
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Jet training field; MIDGET first observed
etet trail Wing field
Construction continues
One large revetted hardstand has been
covered by a concrete archroofed struc-
ture
Runway serviceabl
erational aircraft observed
Modified FARMER-D of Chinese origin
first identified
First FITTER er e FISHBED-
J/H observe OUJI K and MONGO
confirmed
Being used as international field during the re-
construction of Sunan-up; first transport air-
craft observed
Reconstruction i e usly observed
was suspended proposed run-
way appears returned to cultivation
Modified FARMER-D of Chinese origin first
Construction complete on runway
plus taxiway no aircraft observed
to date; status undetermined
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Tunnels and Hangarettes
7. Hardening of facilities appears to be a continuing pro-
gram at most jet-capable fields in North Korea. Of the 16
operational jet-capable fields only four have neither tunnels nor
hangarettes in use or under construction. During this period,
construction of hangarettes/tunnels was being accomplished at
nine of the operational jet-capable fields.
8. In addition, possible aircraft storage tunnels are under
construction at Koksan and Sunan-up and three of the four new
jet-capable fields currently under construction.
Transport/Utility Fields
9. Three utility fields, Kangdong, Kusong, and Irhyang-dong,
have become operational since January 1972. All are sod strips
which support COLT aircraft. Activity remains at a low level at
the transport/utility fields (Figure 5).
Highway Airfields and Training Airfields
10. The number of highway airfields has remained static at
18 since July 1971 (Figure 6).
11. Hoemun-ni Airfield has been a training field for jet
fighter elements of the North Korean Air Force for some time.
However, recent activity at Sinmusong Airfield suggests that this
field is also being used for training. Photography of Sinmusong
probable MIDGET were present.
revealed 11 confirmed MIDGET and a
(Continued p. 10)
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TOP SECRET RUFF
FIGURE 5. TRANSPORT, UTILITY, AND TRAINING FIELDS
IN NORTH KOREA (Item numbers keyed to Table 2)
Table 2. Transport, Utility, and Training Airfields
(Item numbers keyed to Figure 5)
I tern
Installation
Geographic
Runway Length
Runway
Type of
Operational
Aircraft
Coordinates
Meters
Feet
Orientation
Field
Observed
Kuso
41-56-30N
1,210
3,970
E/W
Utility
COLT
128-51.50E
Training
MAX/MOOSE
129-44-44E
Kyongsong
41.33-25N
640
2,100
WNW/ESE
Training
MAX/MOOSE
Southeast
129-37-55E
Hyesan
41-22-30N
1,610
5,282
NE/SW
Transport
128-12-20E
Irhyang-bong
41-14-45N
1,200
3,936
E/W
Utility
COLT
129-33.40E
Kusong
39-59-30N
700
2,296
NE/SW
Utility
COLT
Taechon Military
Camp and Probable
Helicopter Training
39-57-12N
125-25-45E
Helicopter
training
HOUND
Yongsanq-nj
39-43-SON
1,299
4,265
NE/SW
Transport
COLT
1 25-06-45E
Kangdonp
39-09-20N
1,100
3,600
NNE/SSW
Utility
COLT
126-02-30E
10
Pvoncivana Main
39-01-52N
1,189
3,900
N/S
Utility
--
1 25-46-52E
11
Koksan
38-42-45N
1,006
3
300
NW/SE
Utility
126-43.34 E
,
12
Ichon Northeast
38-40-20N
1,149
3,773
NNE/SSW
Utility
1 26-55-40E
13
Hoeyang Southeast
38-39-30N
1,149
3,773
NW/SE
Utility
121-39-OOE
14
Kumgang
38-38-25N
1,100
3,609
N/S
Utility
127-59.20E
15
Changnyon-ni
38-32-40N
792
2,600
NNE/SSW
Utility
125-20 15E
16
r on
38-28-40N
1,100
3,609
NE/SW
Utility
126-51-50E
17
Sinmak South
38-21.23N
640
2,100
N/S
Utility
126-13.17E
18
38-07-40N
1,049
3,445
E/W
Utility
125-41.10E
19
Haeiu
38-00-20N
2,402
7,882
NW/SE
Transport
125-46.40E
20
37-55-SON
2,015
6,614
WNW/SSE
Transport
125.25-18E
-7-
TOP SECRET RUFF
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Remarks
May be forest patrol; small operations
building
COKE, CRATE, CAB, and/or COLT ob-
served on routine basis
No support facilities present; activity may be
transitory; subsequent photography reveals
no aircraft
At least 13 helicopter pads
May be alternate for Taechon; has sizeable
permanent facilities
No support facilities present
Airfield in disrepair; parachute demonstra-
tions observed; first sailplanes in North
Korea observed
Landing tee observed
Area previously targeted as Hoeyang Training
Area SE
Airfield appears to be unserviceable; status
unknown
Status unknown
Status unknown; appears abandoned
Status unknown
H
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FIGURE 6. HIGHWAY AIRFIELDS IN NORTH KOREA (Item numbers
keyed to Table 3)
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F- tom,
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I TOP SECRET RUFF
Item
Runway Length
Ru
nway
No
Meters
Feet
Orien
tation
Kilchu
25
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Tanchon
25
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(Figure 5)
Sinhung
40-10-39N
127-32-25E
2,285
7,497 NNE
/SSW
25
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Sangwon-ni
40-07-50N
125-51-20E
2,018
6,620 NW/
SE
25
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Namsi
39-52-55N
125-09-20E
2,284
7,493 NW/
SE
25
X1
Saamcham Southwest
39-43-30N
125-51-30E
1,615
5,300 NN
W/SSE
25
X1
Yonghung
39-32-08N
127-17.39E
1,829
6,000 WN
W/ESE
25
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Pyong-ni West
39-25-30N
125-48-58E
1,984
6,510 NW/
SE
25
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Chasan
39-19-15N
125-54-10E
2,632
8,635 NE/
SW
25
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Sunan-up
39-14-20N
125-40-35E
2,149
7,050 N/S
25
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Okpyong-ni
39-16-14N
127-19-16E
2,149
7,050 NW/
SE
25
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Wonsan
39-05-40N
127-24-25E
2,003
6,571 NE/
SW
25
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Kuum-ni
38-50-40N
127-52-50E
1,999
6,562 NE/
SW
25
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Koksan South
38-43-50N
126-39-38E
2,149
7,052 N/S
25
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Koksan SW
38-35-25N
126-31-40E
2,174
7,134 N/S
25
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Changyon
38-13-30N
125-08-25E
2,030
6,667 NW/
SE
25
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yang-ni
38-14-50N
125-58-40E
2,007
6,585 E/W
25
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38-13-45N
126-15-50E
2,097
6,880
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12. Kyongsong and Chongjin, two sod fields, remain in use
as primary training fields.
Chongjin NKAF Academy
13. A possibly broader training/familiarization program has
been introduced at the academy to include air defense equipment.
Several pieces of equipment believed to be used for training
purposes have been added to the static display usually parked on
the repair/maintenance apron. These include a FARMER aircraft,
an SA-2 launcher, and an SA-2 transporter.
Acquisition of Aircraft
14. The North Koreans continue to update their aircraft
inventory. During the period, they have acquired approximately
40 modified FARMER D (Figure 7) of Chinese origin (March/April
1972), at least six FISHBED J/H (Figure R) from the Soviets
(January 1973), and a few HIP-C helicopters. Aircraft shipping
crates have been observed at three fields, indicating continuing
efforts in this area.
Project 143372NW
Tf1P CFCRFT RIIFF
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