North Korea appears to have used newly built targets on an island off the west coast during a missile test on Monday, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, likely in an attempt to demonstrate the missile’s accuracy to adversaries or potential buyers like Russia.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on Monday afternoon that North Korea launched “multiple” close-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs) at around 1:50 p.m. KST from south of the capital in Hwangju County. An unspecified number of missiles reportedly flew 37 to 62 miles (60 to 100 kilometers) west toward the Yellow Sea. 

Planet Labs imagery of Sangchuira Island located west of Nampho shows dark spots indicative of missile strikes on at least two pre-built ground targets, measuring 82 by 82 feet (25 by 25 meters) each, between Monday and Tuesday morning.

High-resolution SkySat images released later on Tuesday further reveal that the black marks are not in the center of each square, with one almost on the edge.

Though still demonstrating accuracy, this possibly suggests a lack of pinpoint precision, and could be the reason state media still had not reported on the test two days after it took place.

North Korea previously destroyed structures built as targets on Sangchuira Island during cruise missile tests just two weeks ago, as well as in Feb. 2024. 

The imagery also shows that cargo ships typically anchored in the sea to the south of the island were mostly moved away to the west on Monday morning, just hours before the missile test, a sign that authorities warned vessels to vacate the area ahead of planned missile strikes.

The island is exactly 37 miles west of Hwangju Airbase, a candidate launch location since the DPRK military frequently uses airbase and airport runways for missile launches.

North Korea is last known to have tested its Hwasong-11D CRBM in May last year.

South Korea has similarly demonstrated precision strike capabilities by using square ground targets of a smaller size than the North’s for its Hyunmoo-2 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs).

Planet Labs imagery shows North Korea started constructing various targets, including reinforced pyramid-shaped bunkers, on Sangchuira Island in late 2022 and that efforts to build even more accelerated last summer. A 620-foot diameter circle target was painted on nearby Hachuiri Island to the west, but it’s unclear if it has been used during any tests.

Kim Jong Un has frequently sought to publicly demonstrate short-range missile accuracy in recent years, likely related to its shipment of the missiles to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. 

State media reports in these cases could have been meant to reassure the Russians about the legitimacy of the tests, while Pyongyang likely shared more detailed data behind the scenes. 

If Monday’s test was related to future missile transfers to Russia, then the evidence of impacts on the island missile targets is likely a good indicator of the accuracy of whatever missile type was launched.

The missile test coincided with the start of joint U.S.-ROK military drills and frequent DPRK complaints about the drills in recent days, and if the allies were the intended audience, it’s possible that North Korea could have faked a successful test in a deception operation. However, the apparent lack of pinpoint accuracy demonstrated by the location of the scars on the targets suggests the test was real.

Meanwhile, a report on Monday’s test may still come out in the coming days, as state media has released short-range missile test reports two or more days after past launches, such as last month’s cruise missile test. It has chosen not to publicize others, like ones JCS reported detecting in Jan. 2025 and Nov. 2024. 

Updated at 9:59 a.m. KST on March 12 with details about new high-resolution imagery. Edited by Bryan Betts