[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Emergency Alert for Detection Equipment Following North Korea's Resumption of Launches Declaration

Debris of Cheollima 1 Type Stage 2 Judged to Lack ICBM Technology

North Korea has reiterated its intention to relaunch its reconnaissance satellite in the near future, prompting the military to put detection equipment on high alert once again.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 20th, a military official stated, "With North Korea repeatedly declaring its plan to relaunch the reconnaissance satellite soon, we are closely monitoring related developments, and detection equipment from the Army, Navy, and Air Force are currently performing their missions."

The forces on standby include the Navy's Aegis ships, the Army's Green Pine radar, and the Air Force's Peace Eye airborne early warning and control aircraft, all positioned mainly around the West Sea.

Earlier, on the night of the 15th, the military recovered debris estimated to be the second stage of the Cheollima-1 type rocket, approximately 12 meters in diameter, from international waters in the West Sea. The second stage was transported on the 17th from Pyeongtaek's 2nd Fleet to the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (ADD) in Daejeon, where South Korean and U.S. military authorities are jointly conducting technical analysis. However, it is known that the recovered second stage did not contain the engine parts that would reveal key technologies of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The launch vehicle broke into about 180 pieces upon crashing, making the search operation challenging for the military. Nevertheless, considering the prolonged operation, weather conditions, and ship maintenance status, the military is operating flexibly. Detection is being conducted underwater, at sea, and in the air, focusing on the area where North Korea's launch vehicle debris fell. The military maintains that even if North Korea relaunches the vehicle and some engine parts fall, additional recovery will be possible.

Lee Seong-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the Ministry of National Defense's regular briefing the previous day in response to related questions, "South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are closely watching the timing of the relaunch," adding, "It is difficult to specify the exact timing of the launch at this moment." Regarding North Korea's self-assessment of the failed military reconnaissance satellite launch on the 31st of last month as "the most serious defect," reported at the 8th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party, he refrained from detailed comments, stating, "An evaluation is needed for the content North Korea itself announced."

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