NIS: "North Korea's Reconnaissance Satellite Launch Likely Assisted by Russia"

National Assembly Intelligence Committee Full Meeting, National Intelligence Service Report
"Reconnaissance Satellite Entered Orbit... Signs of Russian Assistance Identified"
"No Signs of 7th Nuclear Test, but Possible at Any Time"

Intelligence authorities stated that North Korea's third reconnaissance satellite launch was successful and that there is evidence of Russian assistance.

On the morning of the 23rd, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported on North Korea's reconnaissance satellite launch and related developments during a closed meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee. According to Yoo Sang-beom of the People Power Party and Yoon Gun-young of the Democratic Party, who serve as the committee's floor leaders, the NIS stated, "The third reconnaissance satellite launch was successful and the satellite has entered orbit," adding, "We assess that Russia likely provided assistance for North Korea's launch vehicle success."

North Korea announced on the 22nd that the launch of its military reconnaissance satellite No. 1, "Manlilkyung-1," which was launched the previous night, was successful. According to the Korean Central News Agency, "The National Aerospace Technology General Bureau successfully launched the reconnaissance satellite 'Manlilkyung-1' on November 21, 2023, at 22:42:28 from the West Sea Satellite Launch Site in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, using the new satellite carrier rocket 'Cheollima-1'."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The NIS explained, "During the North Korea-Russia summit, Putin publicly expressed his willingness to support North Korea's launch vehicle itself," and "After the summit, North Korea provided Russia with blueprints and data related to the first and second launch vehicles, and we have confirmed circumstances indicating that Russia provided analysis results back to North Korea." However, when asked if there was any concrete information beyond these circumstances, they responded, "There is nothing specifically confirmed."

Additionally, the NIS stated, "Analysis of debris recovered from the failed second reconnaissance satellite launch showed that the satellite onboard at that time was not a so-called reconnaissance satellite of valuable 'sub-meter' class," and "Considering that the development of a new artificial satellite typically takes about three years, unless North Korea releases footage showing it took photos of Guam, it is not currently possible to assess its satellite capabilities."

Regarding North Korea's solid-fuel launch technology, the NIS assessed, "It is understood to be in the early development stage for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)."

On the trend of the seventh nuclear test, the NIS said, "No signs of an imminent seventh nuclear test by North Korea have been detected, and no launch signs have been observed at Punggye-ri, the nuclear test site, so far." The NIS explained, "A nuclear test depends on the decision of North Korea's supreme leader," adding, "While the possibility of a nuclear test within 2023 is not considered high, in 2024, depending on Kim Jong-un's decision, there is a possibility of a nuclear test at any time." They further added, "Additional reconnaissance satellite launches within this year seem difficult, but the possibility of a launch next year remains open."

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