North Korean spy satellite crashes into sea
The North Korean regime has failed to launch a “military reconnaissance” satellite due to engine problems. It's planning to make another attempt as soon as possible.
Seoul, South Korea. By REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
The North Korean regime has failed to launch a “military reconnaissance” satellite due to engine problems. It's planning to make another attempt as soon as possible.
The National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) aimed to launch the spy satellite Malligyong-1 on Wednesday by mounting it onto a carrier rocket dubbed Chollima-1.
According to the state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the carrier rocket fell into the sea off the west coast of the divided peninsula after take-off, “after losing thrust due to the abnormal starting of the second-stage engine after the separation of the first stage during the normal flight.”
The failure was attributed to a new type of engine system in the Chollima-1 rocket and what NADA called “the unstable character” of the fuel used.
North Korea intends to run a thorough investigation, fix the issues, and attempt another launch as soon as possible.
Authorities of neighboring South Korea and Japan have issued evacuation alerts in some areas.
South Korea, Japan, and the US have already condemned the launch, emphasizing that any launch using ballistic missile technology is against UN Security Council resolutions.
According to Reuters, the flight was North Korea's sixth satellite launch attempt, and the first since 2016. It was supposed to put North Korea's first spy satellite in orbit.
