Pyongyang plans to investigate "serious defects" from the failed launch and conduct a second one soon; South Korea's military recovers a presumed part of the crashed rocket
Image Courtesy: Hindustan Times
North Korea's recent attempt to launch its first spy satellite ended in failure, dealing a blow to Kim Jong-un's efforts to enhance military capabilities amidst rising tensions with the United States and South Korea. Despite acknowledging the failure swiftly, North Korea remains determined to learn from the experience and proceed with a second launch. This determination suggests Kim's commitment to expanding the country's weapons arsenal and exerting pressure on Washington and Seoul, especially as diplomatic progress remains stagnant.
The launch prompted brief shelter advisories in South Korea and Japan. The South Korean military has begun recovering a presumed part of the crashed North Korean rocket from waters 200 kilometers west of the island of Eocheongdo. The Defense Ministry released photos of a suspected rocket component—a white, metal cylinder. It is important to note that North Korea's satellite launch violates UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit the country from conducting any launches involving ballistic technology.
The failed launch involved the newly developed Chollima-1 rocket, launched from the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in the northwest. Carrying the Malligyong-1 satellite, the rocket experienced thrust loss and crashed off the western coast of the Korean Peninsula after separating its first and second stages. South Korea's military described the rocket's flight as "abnormal," and Japanese officials stated that no object was believed to have reached space. North Korea's space agency intends to investigate the launch's revealed "serious defects" and proceed with a second launch promptly.
Comments