A North Korean rocket carrying its second spy satellite exploded midair on Monday, state media reported, after its neighbors strongly rebuked its planned launch. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said it launched a spy satellite aboard a new rocket at its main northwestern space center. But KCNA said the rocket blew up during a first-stage flight soon after liftoff due to a suspected engine problem.
Quick Read
- North Korea’s Spy Satellite Launch Fails:
- North Korea’s attempt to put its second spy satellite into orbit failed as the rocket exploded midair.
- The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the rocket blew up during the first-stage flight due to a suspected engine problem.
- North Korea had notified Japan’s coast guard of its planned launch, with a warning to exercise caution in certain waters.
- South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch trajectory and observed fragments in the waters four minutes after launch.
- Japan issued a missile alert for Okinawa, which was lifted shortly after.
- North Korea’s first military reconnaissance satellite was launched in November 2023, with plans to launch three additional satellites in 2024.
- The United Nations bans North Korea from conducting satellite launches, viewing them as covers for long-range missile tests.
- The launch occurred hours after a trilateral meeting between the leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan in Seoul.
- It is unusual for North Korea to engage in provocative military actions during high-level regional diplomacy involving China.
The Associated Press has the story:
North Korea says its attempt to put another spy satellite into orbit has failed
Newslooks- SEOUL, South Korea (AP) —
A North Korean rocket carrying its second spy satellite exploded midair on Monday, state media reported, after its neighbors strongly rebuked its planned launch. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said it launched a spy satellite aboard a new rocket at its main northwestern space center. But KCNA said the rocket blew up during a first-stage flight soon after liftoff due to a suspected engine problem.
Earlier Monday, North Korea had notified Japan’s coast guard about its plans to launch “a satellite rocket,” with a warning to exercise caution in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and China and east of the main Philippine island of Luzon during a launch window from Monday through June 3.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff later said it detected a launch trajectory believed to be of a spy satellite fired from the North’s main space center at 10:44 p.m. on Monday. Four minutes later, many fragments were spotted in the waters, it said.
Japanese Prime Minister’s Office earlier issued a missile alert for the island of Okinawa following North Korea’s launch. The alert was lifted soon after.
Japan’s NHK public television earlier reported that an image captured by a camera in northeastern China showed an orange light in the sky and then an apparent explosion a moment later.
North Korea sent its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit in November last year as part of efforts to build a space-based surveillance network to cope with what it calls increasing U.S.-led military threats. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later told a ruling party meeting that the country would launch three additional military spy satellites in 2024.
The November launch followed two failed liftoffs.
In the first attempt, the North Korean rocket carrying the satellite crashed into the ocean soon after liftoff. North Korean authorities said the rocket lost thrust after the separation of its first and second stages. After the second attempt, North Korea said there was an error in the emergency blasting system during the third-stage flight.
The U.N. bans North Korea from conducting any satellite launches, viewing them as covers for testing long-range missile technology. North Korea has steadfastly maintained it has the right to launch satellites and test missiles. Kim has said spy satellites will allow his military to better monitor U.S. and South Korean military activities and enhance the threat posed by its nuclear-capable missiles.
North Korea provides Japan with its launch information because Japan’s coast guard coordinates and distributes maritime safety information in East Asia.
Monday’s launch came hours after the leaders of South Korea, China and Japan met in Seoul in their first trilateral meeting in more than four years. It’s highly unusual for North Korea to take provocative military action when China, its major ally and economic pipeline, is engaging in high-level diplomacy in the region.
