Launch of North Korean spy satellite ends in failure again

North Korea failed in his most recent attempt to put a satelite in orbit, state media reported on Thursday, months after a first rocket crashed into the ocean after liftoff.

The leader of the communist country, Kim Jong Un, made the development of intelligence satellites a priority as a counterweight to the growing activity of the United States in the region.

The National Space Development Administration “carried out the second launch of the Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satellite aboard the new Chollima-1 launch rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launch Field (…) in the early morning of August 24”the state media said.

“The flight in the first and second phase of the rocket was normal, but the launch failed due to an error in the emergency ignition system in the third phase of the flight,” noted the report by the official KCNA news agency.

Joseph Dempsey, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told AFP that while the wording of the ruling is confusing, Pyongyang was probably referring to “separation” of the satellite from the shuttle.

According to KCNA, “the cause of the accident is not a big inconvenience” and targeted a third attempt in October after studying the problem and taking steps to remedy it.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff had reported that it had detected the takeoff at 03:50 local (18:50 GMT on Wednesday) of “what the North Koreans call a space rocket.”

The projectile was fired south from the North Korean province of North Pyongan and “crossed international airspace” above the Yellow Sea, indicated the same source.

“Our military is in a position of full readiness and is coordinating closely with the United States while raising its level of security,” said the military command.

The Japanese government was the first to announce the launch of the projectile, which Tokyo says flew over its airspace near the island of Okinawa.

He also denounced that Pyongyang had used ballistic missile technology, which is prohibited by the UN.

“This latest North Korean launch is extremely problematic from the perspective of ensuring the safety of affected residents, as well as aircraft and ships”said the main government spokesman, Hirokazu Matsuno.

North Korea had informed the Japanese coast guard on Tuesday that it would launch a satellite between August 24 and 31.

Japan mobilized military ships and its air defense system in case the device fell on its territory. In addition, together with Seoul, they demanded that Pyongyang not proceed with the launch.

This comes a few days after a summit between the leaders of Japan, South Korea and the United States at Camp David, near Washington, and in parallel to important military exercises between the latter two countries.

Known as the Ulchi Freedom Shield, these annual exercises, which are perceived as a threat from Pyongyang, began on Monday and are due to run until August 31.

Second try

“Although still a failure, the flight went further than the previous attempt,” said researcher Joseph Dempsey. “Space is complicated, failure and lessons learned are often part of developing ultimately successful evolving designs”he claimed.

North Korea had already tried in May to launch what it described as its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit, but the rocket carrying it fell into the sea minutes after liftoff.

The fall of that first satellite triggered a lengthy operation by Seoul to recover the remains of the device for analysis.

The South Korean Defense Ministry said the study, conducted by US and local experts, concluded that the satellite had no military utility.

Relations between the two Koreas, technically still at war after the armistice of their conflict in the 1950s, are at one of the most tense moments in recent years.

The North has promoted the development of its nuclear arsenal, while the South has multiplied military exercises with the United States.

Source: AFP