Seoul (CNN) -- New images of North Korea's main satellite launch site show that an upgrade allowing for larger rockets has been completed, raising the possibility of a fresh launch within the year, a new report says.

Based on satellite images of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, located on North Korea's west coast close to the Chinese border,the report was posted on the 38 North website, run by the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

"North Korea is now ready to move forward with another rocket launch," concluded the report by retired imagery technology expert Nick Hansen, adding that if the political decision were made to proceed, "a rocket could be launched by the end of 2014."

The satellite pictures appeared to show that a yearlong construction project at the Sohae facility had been completed, including the upgrade of the launch pad and gantry tower to enable the launch of rockets larger than the existing Unha-3 space launch vehicle, said the report.

A South Korean Defense Ministry official, who would not be named in accordance with protocol, said Seoul was monitoring developments.

"Our military is observing closely all activities regarding the situation of construction and possibility of a missile launch at the North Korean Sohae Launching Site," the official said.

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The U.S.-Korea Institute said the development would allow the Sohae facility to launch rockets up to 50 meters in length -- considerably larger than the Unha-3, which is about 30 meters long.

North Korea last fired an Unha-3 in December 2012, in a controversial launch that successfully put a satellite in orbit.

While Pyongyang insisted the test was for scientific purposes, many nations, including the United States and South Korea, considered it a cover for testing ballistic missile technology. The launch resulted in increased U.N. sanctions on the diplomatically isolated state.

The 38 North report stated that the "most likely candidate" for any potential launch remained the existing Unha-3, since the "much larger rocket, reportedly under development, is at least several years from becoming operational."

The satellite images also indicated Pyongyang had conducted engine-tests for a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the KN-08, it said, which had been ongoing at the site for at least two years.

"It remains unclear how successful these tests have been. However, rocket motor tests are typically conducted prior to full-scale test launches of a missile that precede a weapon becoming operational," said the report.

Any decision to launch a rocket would ultimately hinge on political considerations, it said.

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'Long-term commitment'

Daniel A. Pinkston, North East Asia deputy project director at the International Crisis Group, said the reported activity at Sohae was consistent with Pyongyang's statements regarding space launches.

"The Kim family regime has demonstrated the long-term commitment -- over 30 years -- to develop long-range missiles," he said.

"It is important to recognize the relative scale of the investment for an economy the size of the DPRK's. State media and other institutions extol the space program and asserts it is absolutely necessary for the country's economic development."

While any decision by Pyongyang to proceed with a launch would take into account domestic and international factors, he said, "In my view, the DPRK government is fully committed to conducting additional satellite launches, and cannot be dissuaded by the international community."

The Unha-3 did not have military applications, but North Korean scientists and engineers were able to "apply the know-how they've acquired from the Unha-3 to other missiles," he said.

"The DPRK has continued to develop missiles with the intention of acquiring an ICBM," he said.

北韓完成升級，在空間中心的火箭大報告說，
由蒂姆·休謨和KJ權，美國有線電視新聞網
2014年10月2日 - 更新1202 GMT（2002 HKT）
DigitalGlobe公司影像顯示放大的龍門塔在朝鮮的Sohae衛星發射站。
DigitalGlobe公司影像顯示放大的龍門塔在朝鮮的Sohae衛星發射站。
新聞提要
一份新的報告稱，朝鮮已經完成了它的發射中心進行重大升級
它說的升級將允許更大的火箭發射
它說，平壤繼續測試在公路機動洲際彈道導彈
分析師預計，平壤繼續不顧國際反對其火箭計劃
首爾（CNN） -北朝鮮的主要衛星發射場展示新形象的升級，允許更大的火箭已完成，提高了一年內重新推出的可能性，一份新的報告說。
根據Sohae衛星發射站，位於朝鮮西海岸靠近中國邊境的衛星圖像，該報告公佈的38北網站上，通過運行美韓研究所的約翰·霍普金斯大學。
“朝鮮已經準備好向前邁進另一個火箭發射”，最後退休的成像技術專家尼克·漢森的報告，並補充說，如果政治決定作了著手，“火箭可以發射由2014年底”
衛星圖片似乎顯示了為期一年的建設項目在Sohae設施已經完成，包括發射台和龍門塔的升級，使發射火箭比現有Unha-3運載火箭較​​大，報告說。
一名韓國國防部官員，誰不按照協議來命名，稱首爾監控事態發展。
“我們的軍隊正嚴密觀察病情有關建造和發射導彈的朝鮮Sohae發射場的可能性的情況下，所有的活動，”這名官員說。
更大的火箭？
有健康災難庇護金正云？ 哪裡是金正云？ 朝鮮媒體：金正日感覺“不舒服”
美韓研究所說，發展將使Sohae設施發射火箭高達50米的長度 - 大大高於Unha-3，這是約30米長的大。
朝鮮去年發射的Unha-3在2012年12月，在一個有爭議的推出，成功地將衛星送入軌道。
儘管平壤堅稱測試是用於科學目的，許多國家，包括美國，韓國，認為這是測試彈道導彈技術的覆蓋。此次推出導致的外交孤立狀態，提高聯合國的制裁。
38北報告指出，對於任何潛在推出的“最有可能的候選人”保持現有的Unha-3，因為“更大的火箭，據說正在開發，至少是幾年成為運營。”
衛星圖像也表示，平壤已進行發動機測試了公路機動洲際彈道導彈（ICBM）的KN-08，它說，這一直持續在現場進行至少兩年。
“目前還不清楚這些成功的測試已經，但是火箭發動機測試通常進行之前，導彈的全尺寸試驗發射它之前的武器開始運作，”報告說。
發射火箭將最終取決於政治考慮作出任何決定，它說。
是朝鮮還是挖隧道南？
“長期承諾”
丹尼爾A.平克斯頓，東北亞項目副主任在國際危機組織表示，在Sohae的報告的活動是與平壤的有關空間物體的陳述相一致。
“金氏家族政權已經顯示出長期的承諾 - 超過30年 - 發展遠程導彈，”他說。
“重要的是要認識到投資的相對規模對經濟的朝鮮，官方媒體和其他機構的規模歌頌的太空計劃，並聲稱這是為國家的經濟發展絕對必要的是很重要的。”
雖然平壤的任何決定展開一經推出便考慮到國內因素和國際因素，他說，“在我看來，朝鮮政府完全致力於開展更多的衛星發射，並不能得到國際社會的承認。”
該Unha-3沒有軍事用途，但朝鮮科學家和工程師們能夠“運用他們已經從Unha-3取得其他導彈的訣竅，”他說。
“朝鮮繼續與收購的洲際彈道導彈的意圖發展導彈，”他說。