Presidential Office: North Korea's Reconnaissance Satellite Launch Deadline Passed, "Maintaining Alert Posture"

Preparing for the Possibility of Unannounced Surprise Launches

The Presidential Office announced on the 11th that although the deadline for North Korea's announced space launch vehicle launch has passed, it plans to maintain the current alert status.

According to the Presidential Office on the 11th, since the possibility of North Korea's reconnaissance satellite and ballistic missile surprise launches remains, it plans to continue its preparedness posture.

Earlier, North Korea notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Japan, the regional navigation area coordinator, on the 30th of last month that it planned to launch a reconnaissance satellite between 0:00 on the 31st and 0:00 on the 11th. On the first day of the notification period, the 31st, it launched a projectile, but it fell into the West Sea, resulting in failure.

Immediately after North Korea launched the projectile, the Presidential Office held consecutive Security Situation Assessment Meetings and Standing Committee meetings of the National Security Council (NSC), strongly condemning it as a "serious violation of the UN Security Council resolutions." The United States and Japan also issued statements criticizing North Korea's space launch vehicle launch.

On the 31st, citizens in the waiting room of Seoul Station, Jung-gu, Seoul, were watching news related to North Korea's launch of a space launch vehicle in the southern direction. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

North Korea has also responded to countries and international organizations criticizing its space launch vehicle launch by stating it will continue its launch plans.

Kim Yo-jong, Vice Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, criticized the United States, saying, "Even at this moment, the sky over the Korean Peninsula is filled with numerous reconnaissance satellites and high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, all kinds of reconnaissance assets, with the U.S. intently watching our every move. For the U.S. to object to our military reconnaissance satellite launch is a case of the pot calling the kettle black and is absurd."

After the IMO adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's space launch vehicle launch, North Korea reacted by stating that in the future, it may not provide prior notification even if it launches satellites.

The Presidential Office and the government have assessed that there is a sufficient possibility of a second launch attempt by North Korea within the notification period and have been closely monitoring related developments, focusing surveillance on the estimated launch areas.

Meanwhile, Japan has also decided to maintain the deployment of Patriot missile interceptor units for the time being, according to a report by the Asahi Shimbun on the same day.

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