JCS: "North Korea's Reconnaissance Satellite Enters Space Orbit... Time Needed to Confirm Normal Operation"

The Joint Chiefs of Staff assessed that the military reconnaissance satellite launched by North Korea has entered orbit.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated in a text message sent to reporters covering the Ministry of National Defense, "After comprehensively analyzing the flight trajectory information and various circumstances of the so-called 'military reconnaissance satellite' launched by North Korea on November 21, it is assessed that the satellite body has entered orbit."

The Joint Chiefs added, "However, determining whether the satellite is functioning normally will require additional analysis by relevant agencies and in cooperation with South Korea and the United States, which will take some time." Defense Minister Shin Won-sik also appeared on KBS radio that day and responded to related questions by saying, "The initial assessment is that it has entered a normal orbit."

Earlier, North Korea launched the reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyung-1' from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Dongchang-ri, Pyonganbuk-do, on the night before, using the new satellite carrier rocket 'Chollima-1.' About three hours after the launch, in the early morning of the same day, the state-run media Korean Central News Agency announced that the Chollima-1 had accurately entered orbit and declared the launch a success.

The Korean Central News Agency also reported that North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the Pyongyang Integrated Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration at 10 a.m. that day to inspect the operational status, fine control, and aerospace imaging conditions of the Malligyung-1, which had entered orbit. According to the report, the National Aerospace Technology Administration informed Chairman Kim that "'Malligyung-1' will complete a 'fine control process' over the next 7 to 10 days and will begin its official reconnaissance mission starting December 1."

Initially, the Joint Chiefs of Staff took a cautious stance regarding whether the North Korean reconnaissance satellite had entered orbit, stating that "analysis is needed," but about 20 hours after the launch, they acknowledged the successful orbital insertion.

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