North Korea Again Excuses Missile Launch as 'Reconnaissance Satellite' (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Reporter Yang Nak-gyu, Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea announced on the 6th that it conducted another important test for reconnaissance satellite development the day before.

Korean Central News Agency reported that "The National Aerospace Development Administration and the Academy of National Defense Science conducted another important test on March 5 in accordance with the reconnaissance satellite development plan."

It added, "Through the test, the National Aerospace Development Administration confirmed the reliability of the satellite data transmission and reception and control command system, as well as various ground satellite control systems," it claimed.

As with the launch of a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) on the 27th of last month, North Korea again cited reconnaissance satellites as the justification for the missile launch. There was no mention of the word 'missile.'

The technology for launching reconnaissance satellites is the same as that for launching intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), leading to speculation that North Korea might be preparing to launch an ICBM under the pretext of reconnaissance satellite development. Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, had previously instructed to consider ending the moratorium on nuclear tests and ICBM launches.

The ballistic missile launched by North Korea on the 5th is estimated to be a type similar to an MRBM. It is similar to the projectile launched six days earlier under the pretext of 'reconnaissance satellite development.' Generally, missiles with a range of about 1000 to 2500 km are classified as MRBMs. This type has a longer range than short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) but shorter than intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs).

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched one ballistic missile toward the East Sea from the Sunan area of Pyongyang at around 8:48 a.m. that day. It is estimated to have been launched using a transporter erector launcher (TEL) near Sunan Airport. The flight distance was detected to be approximately 270 km, with an altitude of about 560 km.

Interpretations suggest that North Korea's successive military demonstrations aim to assert its presence and enhance its negotiating power with the U.S. amid the unstable situation caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the escalating U.S.-Russia conflict. While some analyses consider that North Korea is mindful of South Korea's political schedule, given its history of military demonstrations around election periods, the prevailing view is that these are planned activities unrelated to external circumstances, as North Korea has declared 'strengthening national defense.'

Possessing reconnaissance satellites is also a long-cherished goal for North Korea. Jeong Seong-jang, head of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "For North Korea, which does not have a properly functioning artificial satellite or any advanced reconnaissance assets like South Korea, owning reconnaissance satellites is a long-standing wish and one of the important goals in the defense sector," adding, "It is highly likely that they will focus on developing 'military reconnaissance satellites' by April 15, the 110th birthday of Kim Il-sung."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.