North Korea’s second attempt to send space satellite ends in failure

Asia-Pacific, News August 26, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

North Korea attempted to send a satellite into space on August 25, 2023, which resulted in a failure. This is the second time that Pyongyang has attempted a space launch in a span of three months with zero success.

Pyongyang reported that the rocket launch was an attempt to place a satellite in space, which ended in failure. According to the state-run news agency KCNA, “The flights of the first and second stages of the rocket were normal, but the launch failed due to an error in the emergency blasting system during the third-stage flight.”

The report said that North Korea’s National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) is looking into the matter to determine the actual cause behind the failure. The report also said, “NADA expressed the stand that it would conduct the third reconnaissance satellite launch in October after thoroughly probing the reason and taking measures.”

Earlier on May 31, Pyongyang attempted to send its Malligyong-1 spy satellite into space using its homegrown Chollima-1 rocket. The launch also ended in failure. At that time the rocket failed to achieve the second stage of launch and fell into the sea. At that time state media reported that the unreliable engine system and fuel caused the failure.

South Korea and Japan detected the rocket launch from North Korea in the early morning of August 25. The rocket flew over the international airspace around the Yellow Sea between the Korean Peninsula and mainland China.

*^{The Chollima-1 rocket, carrying a spy satellite, takes off from an undisclosed location in North Korea. (Image Credit: KCNA/via KNS)}*

The rocket launch prompted emergency warnings in Japan’s southernmost Okinawa prefecture as the administration urged citizens to stay indoors. The alert remained active for 20 minutes until it was reported that the fired rocket had fallen into the sea.

In response to the rocket launch, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the repeated missile launches were a threat to regional security, “we will strongly protest against North Korea and condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also condemned North Korea’s rocket launch by saying “Behavior like this goes against the UN resolutions and we’re already firmly protesting.”

Under the United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea, Pyongyang is prohibited from carrying out space launches as such activity can be used as a cover for testing long-range ballistic missile technology.

The U.S. Department of State also issued a statement on the matter urging North Korea to refrain from “further threatening activity” and called on Pyongyang to engage in serious diplomacy. “Space launch vehicles (SLVs) incorporate technologies that are identical to, and interchangeable with, those used in ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs),” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement.

Space race in the Korean Peninsula

Along with the rising military tensions between the two rival countries of the Korean Peninsula, a new wave of the space race has started. Seoul and Pyongyang are making rapid progress trying to improve their space technologies and putting satellites into space.

^{North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un viewing launch trajectory maps of two reported satellite technology tests during a visit to the Satellite Control Center in Pyongyang, North Korea, on March 10, 2022. (Image Credit: Rodong Sinmun)}

Earlier this year, South Korea successfully launched its first homegrown space rocket carrying 8 commercial satellites. Nuri rocket, also called KSLV-II, took off from Naro Space Center on the southern coast of South Korea.

North Korea, on the other hand, is focused on using the space front to improve the country’s reconnaissance capabilities. Pyongyang’s missiles and rocket-building capabilities demonstrate that it can send a satellite into space, however, many experts have questioned whether the North Korean military has access to sophisticated reconnaissance equipment, especially high-resolution cameras for the spy satellite.