North Korea's attempt to launch a satellite into orbit failed as South Korea's military claimed that the satellite was not advanced enough to conduct military reconnaissance from space.
According to the Associated Press, the wreckage of the rocket and satellite was already recovered and examined, leading experts to conclude that the satellite lacked the capability for military surveillance.
A man walks past a television showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on March 9, 2023. - North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile on March 9, Seoul's military said, Pyongyang's latest show of force just days before South Korea and the United States kick off major joint military exercises
North Korea's Attempt to Launch a Spy Satellite
In May, North Korea made its first attempt to launch a spy satellite, but the rocket carrying it experienced a malfunction and crashed into the waters off the Korean Peninsula's west coast.
North Korea had asserted that the satellite was a crucial component of its space-based reconnaissance system, necessary to counter perceived security threats from South Korea and the United States.
South Korea conducted a 36-day operation involving navy ships, aircraft, and divers to retrieve debris from the rocket and satellite. Various parts were recovered, and a joint examination by South Korean and US experts confirmed the satellite's limited capabilities for military reconnaissance.
However, North Korea has yet to respond to the announcement by South Korea regarding the satellite's deficiencies. Following the failed launch, North Korea's state media attributed the failure to a loss of thrust and subsequent crash into the sea.
The country's leadership considered the launch failure a significant setback and criticized those responsible. North Korean officials have expressed their intention to make a second launch attempt after identifying the causes of the initial failure.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized the importance of acquiring a military spy satellite to enhance the country's defense capabilities.
Additionally, North Korea has expressed aspirations to develop other advanced weapons systems, including multi-warhead nuclear missiles, solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, and nuclear-powered submarines.
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Experts Cast Doubt
Prior to the failed satellite launch, North Korea had showcased photos taken by a test satellite, purportedly depicting South Korean cities from space.
Nevertheless, experts cast doubt on the satellite's efficacy in terms of surveillance objectives, implying that its capabilities were limited to identifying significant targets such as naval vessels in the ocean or military installations on land, according to AP's report.
International condemnation followed North Korea's rocket launch, with the US, South Korea, and other countries viewing it as a security risk and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting the use of ballistic missile technology.
The failed satellite launch highlights North Korea's ambitions to advance its military capabilities through space-based assets, even as it faces technical setbacks and skepticism regarding its surveillance capabilities.
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