JCS: "North Korea Fired from New Launch Site... Debris Search Underway"

Second Attempt at Military Reconnaissance Satellite in May... Another Failure
Estimated to Have Taken Place at New Launch Site in West Sea Satellite Launch Complex
Military Conducting Maritime Search... "Possible Relaunch on Party Founding Day"

Military authorities have determined that North Korea launched the space launch vehicle on the 24th from a new launch site within the existing West Sea Satellite Launching Station. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) are currently conducting maritime searches using aircraft and naval vessels, and plan to decide on a full-scale salvage operation based on whether debris can be identified.

A JCS official told reporters on the day, "Based on a joint assessment conducted in cooperation with the United States, we judge that North Korea launched the space launch vehicle from a new launch site." The West Sea Satellite Launching Station, located in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, is a site where North Korea has conducted long-range rocket tests and is also referred to as the "Dongchang-ri Launch Site" after the local area. A launch was also conducted from this new site within the area in May.

Citizens watching news related to a space launch vehicle, which North Korea claims to have loaded a military reconnaissance satellite, on the morning of the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the day, North Korea launched one space launch vehicle southward from the West Sea Satellite Launching Station at around 3:50 a.m. This was a reattempt 85 days after the first launch failed on May 31, and the result was again a failure. A JCS official explained, "We immediately detected, tracked, and monitored the launch right after it occurred, and based on the specifications identified by the military, we judge it to be a failure," adding, "The debris fell near the area North Korea had notified, and detailed analysis is underway." The official further stated, "We are currently conducting search and salvage operations using aircraft and naval vessels, and are in the stage of maritime search," and added, "After identifying the debris first, we will evaluate various situations to decide whether to proceed with a full-scale salvage operation."

North Korea also quickly acknowledged the failure just three hours after the launch. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced, "The National Aerospace Development Administration conducted the second launch of the reconnaissance satellite 'Manriki-1' mounted on the new satellite carrier rocket 'Chollima-1' at the West Sea Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province," stating, "The first and second stages of Chollima-1 flew normally, but an error occurred in the emergency explosion system during the third stage flight, resulting in failure."

North Korea: "Not a big problem"...Third launch expected on Party Foundation Day

The military authorities salvaged and revealed debris from North Korea's space launch vehicle 'Chollima-1' last June. [Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea cited an "error" in the emergency explosion system as the cause of failure. While the first and second stages of the rocket flew normally, an error occurred in this system during the third stage flight. The emergency explosion system is presumed to be a device that intentionally detonates the rocket if any stage does not fly normally. If North Korea's claim is true, the satellite mounted on the third stage may have been destroyed by the explosion. However, North Korea claimed that this error is "not a big problem," and military authorities plan to keep various possibilities open and continue analysis.

Despite repeated failures, North Korea has announced additional launches. Reconnaissance satellites are considered one of the three key conditions for completing "nuclear forces," along with nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles capable of delivering them. However, unlike the increasingly advanced nuclear and missile capabilities, North Korea's reconnaissance capabilities have been evaluated as remaining at a "blind" level. It appears North Korea aims to complete the core link of the "nuclear force system" and to shed the stigma of instability in its rocket technology, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), revealed by successive launch failures.

The anticipated timing for the third launch is October. This is analyzed to be in consideration of the greatest political holiday, the "Workers' Party Foundation Day." North Korea commemorates October 10, 1945, when Chairman Kim Il-sung delivered a keynote speech at the Conference of Party Leaders and Enthusiasts of the Northwest Five Provinces of the Korean Communist Party, as the Party Foundation Day. A JCS official said, "This time as well, they attempted a satellite launch ahead of the September 9 holiday, seemingly intending to showcase the results domestically and internationally," and evaluated, "It cannot be ruled out that the next launch will also be attempted around October 10, the Party Foundation Day."

Meanwhile, during the May launch, confusion was caused from early morning by "air raid alerts" and other warnings, but this time the early morning launch passed quietly. A JCS official explained, "According to the improvement plan agreed upon by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of National Defense, no warning was requested," adding, "Because the launch vehicle passed 33 km west of Baengnyeongdo in the sea and did not affect the safety of our citizens." The official further added, "If the rocket explodes mid-flight or passes through territorial waters, land, or airspace, we are prepared to immediately request the issuance of warnings."

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