1 of 2 Part of what would have been a satellite launched by North Korea was salvaged by South Korea Photo: South Korean Ministry of Defense/AFP Part of what would have been a satellite launched by North Korea was salvaged by South Korea Photo: South Korean Ministry of Defense/ AFP
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“The launch of the new satellite transport rocket ‘Chollima1’ crashed into the Western (Yellow) Sea after losing thrust due to erratic launch of the twostage engine,” official KCNA news agency reported.
Before Pyongyang’s announcement, South Korea’s chiefs of staff said the military was studying the launch after the device disappeared from its radars.
“The (North Korean) projectile disappeared from radar before it reached the intended point of arrival,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
The North Korean National Aerospace Development Administration attributed the launch failure to “the poor reliability and stability of the Chollima1’s new engine system and the instability of the fuel used”.
It said it would fully investigate the “serious deficiencies” uncovered during the launch of the satellite and try again “as soon as possible”.
announced launch
2 of 2 Part of object launched by North Korea rescued at sea Photo: South Korean Defense Ministry/AFP Part of object launched by North Korea rescued at sea Photo: South Korean Defense Ministry/AFP
The South Korean military said it discovered and recovered a suspicious part of the satellite in waters 200km west of Eocheong Island.
The United States condemned the satellite launch “in the strongest possible terms” and warned it would “intensify tensions in the region,” said Adam Hodge, spokesman for the National Security Council.
Japan, for its part, has claimed that “launching such a ballistic missile” violates UN Security Council resolutions.
North Korea on Tuesday confirmed its plans to launch the socalled “military reconnaissance satellite No. 1” by June 11, and Japan has been informed of its plans.
Shortly after the launch, South Korea issued a text warning saying, “Citizens, please prepare for evacuation and allow priority evacuation of children and the elderly,” while sirens wailed in central Seoul.
But minutes later, South Korea’s Interior Ministry admitted without further explanation that the warning had been “misissued”.
Japan briefly activated its missile alert for the southern Okinawa region on Wednesday morning and lifted it about 30 minutes later.
The “Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1” will be “launched in June” to “counter dangerous military actions by the United States and its vassals,” said Ri Pyong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of North Korea’s ruling party, KCNA.
He pointed out that the satellite, along with “various intelligence tools that need to be tested, are essential to anticipate, monitor (…) and deal with the dangerous military actions of the United States and its vassal forces in real time .” .”
His comment referred to joint USSeoul military exercises near the Korean Peninsula, which Pyongyang sees as rehearsals for an invasion.
“Kim kept his word”
Because longrange missiles and launch vehicles share the same technology, analysts believe developing the ability to launch a satellite into orbit would give Pyongyang the opportunity to test banned ICBMs.
“Kim kept his word and launched the spy satellite today,” Soo Kim of LMI Consulting and a former CIA analyst told AFP, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“We know Kim’s determination does not end with this activity,” the analyst said, adding that the launch could be a “prelude to further provocations, including the nuclear test that we have long speculated about.”
After breaking off dialogue with Washington over North Korea’s nuclear program in 2019, Pyongyang has accelerated the development of its nuclear program with a series of weapons tests, including the launch of several ICBMs.
“Whether North Korea’s current satellite mission was successful or not, Pyongyang can be expected to use it as political propaganda for its space capabilities, as well as diplomatic rhetoric to drive a wedge between Seoul and Tokyo,” Leif said. Eric Easley, Professor at Ewha University, Seoul.
Since 1998, Pyongyang has launched five satellites, three of which failed immediately and two appeared to have reached orbit, although their signals were never independently detected, which could be due to a malfunction.