Military: "North Korea Also Preparing Satellite Launch" [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik "Preparing Within This Month"
Final Launch Expected Through Russian Technical Advice

It has been confirmed that North Korea is preparing to launch its second military reconnaissance satellite. It is expected to be launched in mid-April, coinciding with the launch of our military's reconnaissance satellite.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th, Shin Won-sik, Minister of National Defense, told reporters at the Ministry of National Defense building, "We had been closely monitoring the possibility of a launch in March, but it seems they are making some additional adjustments." Minister Shin added, "If the technical adjustments proceed smoothly, it will be in mid-April. April 15 (Kim Il-sung's birthday, the Day of the Sun) is a special day for North Korea, so they will try to launch around that time, but if it is delayed by a few days, it is reasonable to expect it by the end of April."

As our military launched the second reconnaissance satellite on the 8th, attention is also focused on North Korea's second military reconnaissance satellite launch trends. According to military sources, since the beginning of this year, movements of equipment and personnel have been detected at the West Sea Satellite Launching Station in Dongchang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, indicating preparations for a reconnaissance satellite launch are underway.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff official also stated, "North Korea is intensifying launch preparations by addressing shortcomings from last year's launch," and predicted, "Since we launched our satellite today, considering the domestic situation, (North Korea) will likely launch in mid-April."

Previously, North Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite, Manlilyeong-1, into orbit last November and declared plans to launch three reconnaissance satellites this year. The Korean Central News Agency reported that at the Workers' Party plenary meeting held on December 30 last year, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, "declared the task of launching three additional reconnaissance satellites in 2024."

Park Kyung-su, Deputy Director of North Korea's National Aerospace Technology General Bureau, also reaffirmed related plans at a press conference on the 31st of last month, stating, "With the successful launch of last year's reconnaissance satellite 'Manlilyeong-1,' great progress has been made in strengthening national defense capabilities, and several reconnaissance satellite launches are anticipated this year as well."

North Korea has historically notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Worldwide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS), including Japan?which is the regional navigation warning coordinator for the area encompassing South Korea and North Korea?about launch notification periods whenever it has launched artificial satellites. Therefore, it is expected that prior notification will be given this time as well. It is highly likely that North Korea is preparing the satellite launch with technical advice from Russia. Since the North Korea-Russia summit held last September at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, Chairman Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have demonstrated a close relationship in various fields. However, the 'Manlilyeong-1' has already been evaluated as failing to perform its function of capturing targets and transmitting them to the ground, which was a blow to North Korea's prestige.

Minister Shin Won-sik stated at a press briefing in February, "There are no signs that (North Korea's reconnaissance satellite) is functioning. It is just orbiting without doing anything."

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