Sohae Satellite Launching Station (Chosŏn'gŭl: 서해위성발사장; Hancha: 西海衛星發射場; MR: Sohae Wisŏng Palsajang, also known as Tongch'ang-dong Space Launch Center and Pongdong-ri) is a rocket launching site in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, North Korea. The base is located among hills close to the northern border with China. The spaceport was built on the site of the village Pongdong-ri which was displaced during construction. It was the site for the April 13, 2012 launch of North Korean satellite Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 which was being launched to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-Sung. The rocket launch failed, but on December 12 of the same year Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 was successfully launched and brought into Earth orbit.
The launch was controversial as it is believed to be a test of ballistic missile technology and hence of breach of an agreement made between North Korea and the USA in February 2012. Although North Korea has claimed to have launched satellites before neither the US nor Russia has picked up signals from them.
Read more about Sohae Satellite Launching Station: History, Location, Facilities, See Also
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