North Korea Builds 21 Mysterious Bunkers Near DMZ, Suspected of Housing Rocket Systems Targeting Seoul

Recent satellite imagery reveals that North Korea has built at least 21 large military structures near the border with South Korea over the past two years. These facilities, located in frontline bases south of Kaesong and just kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), are approximately 52 meters long and share a uniform design. They are connected by dedicated military roads, suggesting a purpose beyond ordinary infrastructure.

Analysts suggest these structures are likely intended for multiple rocket launcher systems (MLRS), rather than large missile launchers. Each building features a drive-through design with a raised roof, allowing vehicles to position rocket launchers or missiles for maintenance and repair. It is estimated that each facility can accommodate about four launchers and support vehicles. This construction aligns with North Korea's public display of 50 new TELs (transporter erector launchers) capable of carrying 600mm KN-25 super-large MLRS in February.

Experts note that North Korea has a history of using such drive-through bunkers to conceal its missile units, citing similar designs used for its Scud and Hwasong series missiles. The nearby Kal-gol missile base already features comparable structures used for training and maintenance of Hwasong-5 and Hwasong-6 missile launchers.

The construction of these 21 facilities near the DMZ, coupled with the recent unveiling of new rocket and missile systems, signals Pyongyang's sustained effort to bolster its mobile frontline strike capabilities. This development complicates intelligence monitoring and defense planning for South Korea and the United States, as North Korea continues to upgrade its forward-deployed firepower.