North Korea’s attempt to deploy its second spy satellite ended in failure on Monday (27th) when the rocket carrying it exploded shortly after liftoff. South Korean media reports indicated that the launch had received support from a Russian technical team.
According to North Korean state media on Tuesday (28th) morning, the country’s space agency launched a military reconnaissance satellite using a new type of satellite-carrying rocket. However, the rocket exploded in mid-air during the initial stage of flight after liftoff. The incident was attributed to a newly developed engine, as claimed by North Korean officials.
A unnamed official from the North Korean space agency was cited in the report as saying that a preliminary examination suggested the explosion was related to operational issues with the newly developed liquid oxygen kerosene rocket engine. They also mentioned plans to investigate other potential causes.
Since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, military relations between North Korea and Russia have been intensifying. There are indications that North Korea is obtaining satellite-related technology from Russia. South Korean media outlet “Yonhap News Agency” reported on Sunday (26th) that a Russian technical team had entered North Korea and conducted engine combustion tests multiple times.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the discovery of a launch trajectory at 10:44 pm on Monday, believed to be for a spy satellite launched from North Korea’s main space center. Four minutes later, a significant amount of debris was detected in the waters off the North Korean coast.
During a trilateral summit earlier that day with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol urged for strong international action if North Korea continues its launch plans. Prime Minister Kishida called on North Korea to halt the launch plans. However, Premier Li did not mention the issue in his remarks.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification labeled North Korea’s satellite launch as a “serious provocation threatening the security of our country and the region.” Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi stated in a press conference that North Korea’s launch is a “serious challenge to the entire world,” and they have lodged a formal protest with North Korea through their embassy in Beijing.
US political news outlet Politico reported on the 27th that North Korea’s timing for the satellite launch may be a protest against the trilateral summit between South Korea, Japan, and China, expressing dissatisfaction towards its ally, China. Kim Jong-un has been pursuing a “new Cold War” mindset, seeking to strengthen alliances with China and Russia to form an anti-US front. Consequently, diplomatic activities of China and the South Korea-Japan duo could unsettle Pyongyang.
However, China continues to weigh its position, attempting to strike a balance between various interests. While China and Russia together blocked US-led efforts to intensify sanctions on North Korea at the UN Security Council, they are not as forthright and public in supporting Kim Jong-un’s “new Cold War” actions.
On Monday (26th), the North Korean Foreign Ministry strongly criticized the joint statement issued by Premier Li, President Yoon, and Prime Minister Kishida, calling it “blatant interference in North Korea’s internal affairs.” Though North Korea’s criticism was primarily directed at South Korea, the rare condemnation of a statement signed by China was noted.
North Korea’s spy satellite launch initiative began in 2011 and has seen three launches to date. Following failures in May and August of the same year, they successfully placed their first military spy satellite into Earth’s orbit last November. Kim Jong-un plans to launch three more spy satellites by the end of this year. It is expected that North Korea will resume launches once technical issues are resolved.