A U.S. think tank has revealed that North Korea has constructed and operated a covert long-range missile base near its border with China, specifically in Sinpung-dong, approximately 27 kilometers from the Chinese border. The base, which began construction around 2004 and became operational about a decade later, spans an estimated 22 square kilometers—equivalent to roughly 470 Tokyo Domes—and is divided into six zones including a command center, missile maintenance facilities, and underground structures. It reportedly houses between six and nine intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), including the Hwasong-18 model, along with mobile launchers and thousands of troops. This facility is not publicly acknowledged by Pyongyang and is considered a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the United States. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has warned that North Korea is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, with the capability to produce 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually, and is nearing possession of nuclear ICBMs capable of striking the U.S. mainland. The development has raised concerns about regional security and supply chain policies involving China. Additionally, China has criticized the so-called 'Golden Dome' program, viewing it as a space threat and part of an arms race.