North Korea announced that its attempt to launch a new military reconnaissance satellite ended in failure on Monday due to an explosion of a newly developed rocket engine during flight.
The launch attempt occurred shortly after Pyongyang issued a warning that it would try to launch a satellite by June 4, aiming to deploy its second spy satellite into orbit.
Instead of a successful deployment, the launch marked another setback for North Korea’s space ambitions, following two similar failures last year. Despite these setbacks, North Korea had managed to successfully place its first spy satellite into orbit in November.
According to a report from state media, the deputy director general of North Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration stated that the new satellite carrier rocket exploded in mid-air during the flight of the first stage.
Initial analyses pointed to issues with the newly developed liquid fuel rocket motor, though other potential causes were still under investigation.
The failed launch was quickly noticed by officials in South Korea and Japan. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that North Korea launched the projectile southward from its west coast at approximately 10:44 p.m. local time (1344 GMT).
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Just two minutes after launch, the JCS detected a significant amount of debris from the rocket in the sea. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that the object launched by North Korea disappeared over the Yellow Sea.
Hayashi emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that such launches violate relevant UN Security Council resolutions and pose serious safety concerns for the people in the region.
The United States also condemned the launch, highlighting that it incorporated technologies directly related to North Korea’s ballistic missile program, and violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
The timing of the launch was particularly notable, as it occurred just hours after a rare three-way summit in Seoul between China, South Korea, and Japan concluded.
During the summit, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged North Korea to refrain from proceeding with the launch. While Chinese Premier Li Qiang did not directly address the launch, he called on all parties to work towards lowering tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
This failed satellite launch underscores the ongoing challenges and risks associated with North Korea’s pursuit of advanced military technologies and highlights the broader geopolitical tensions in the region.