North Korea's latest attempt to launch a second spy satellite ended in failure when the rocket it was on exploded mid-air, as admitted by North Korean officials. This revelation came after South Korea's military reported the launch of what they termed as an "unidentified projectile." The attempt was marred by the explosion of the new satellite carrier rocket during the flight of its first stage, according to the deputy director general of North Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration, as reported by state media.
Initial analysis pointed towards a newly developed liquid fuel rocket motor as the potential cause, although further investigation into other possible reasons was underway. Both South Korean and Japanese officials had earlier indicated that the launch had not been successful. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea had fired the projectile southwards over the Yellow Sea, with fragments subsequently spotted in the sea. Japan's public broadcaster NHK echoed similar observations.
Despite North Korea's earlier notification of its launch plan, the actual event seemed to have deviated from their intentions. Japan had even issued an emergency alert in southern Okinawa prefecture, though later lifting it upon determining that the rocket was not expected to traverse Japanese territory.
This failure marks a setback for North Korea's ambitions in space, especially after its successful launch of the first spy satellite in November, which garnered international condemnation. The United States, in particular, labeled it a "brazen violation" of UN sanctions. This launch follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's announcement of plans to launch three more military spy satellites in 2024, part of a broader military modernization program.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed concern over North Korea's continuous pursuit of satellite launches, warning that it could undermine regional and global peace. Meanwhile, South Korea conducted military exercises to showcase its capabilities and determination.
The involvement of Russian engineers in North Korea's satellite launch preparations has raised eyebrows, with Seoul and Washington accusing North Korea of supplying weapons to Moscow for use in the conflict in Ukraine in exchange for technical assistance. Such developments add layers to the geopolitical tensions surrounding North Korea's space ambitions.
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