• Forum
• SITREP
• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security

• Space

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Public Eye

Malligyong-1-2

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of DPRK reported 24 August 2023 that the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) of the DPRK conducted the second launch of reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 (meaning "Telescope-1") aboard the new-type carrier rocket Chollima-1 at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan County of North Phyongan Province at dawn of August 24, Juche 112 (2023). The flights of the first and second stages of the rocket were normal, but the launch failed due to an error in the "emergency blasting system" during the third-stage flight.

The NADA said that it would make clear in a short span of time the reason why the emergency blasting system was operated abnormally. Explaining that the cause of the relevant accident is not a big problem in aspect of the reliability of cascade engines and the system, the NADA expressed the stand that it would conduct the third reconnaissance satellite launch in October after thoroughly probing the reason and taking measures.

North Korea notified Japan 22 August 2023 that it planned to launch another satellite sometime between 24 August 2023 and the end of this month, less than three months after its first attempt failed. This, amid joint military drills by Seoul and Washington, and the regime marking its 75th founding anniversary next month.

Multiple Japanese news outlets said that Japan's Coast Guard had earlier presumed that the launch could have been a ballistic missile adding that it separated into pieces which landed in the West Sea, East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean near the Philippines.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that it detected the rocket flying above international waters off the Korean Peninsula's west coast after its launch from the North's northwestern Tongchang-ri area where the main space launch center is located.

Seoul's military officials said that they were in the process of retrieving the satellite body and the wreckage that has fallen in the West Sea. "South Korea will continue high-intensity Seoul-Washington joint military drills while closely monitoring Pyongyang's further actions."

According to one expert, Pyongyang's rush to put the satellite into orbit before the regime's national foundation day in September could have been a reason for the failure. "May's attempt revealed problems with both the engine and fuel, which means reconstrction was needed, but launching just three months after that shows that there wasn't a high possibility of the plan succeeding."

Meanwhile, officials from the South's Defense Ministry and other related officials attended the National Security Council meeting at around 6 AM. Members of the council strongly condemned the launch and said that it clearly violates the UN Security Council resolutions. President Yoon Suk Yeol also ordered officials to brace for any additional provocations by North Korea and share the analysis result with Washington and Tokyo. He also asked to promptly carry out what had been pledged in the Camp David trilateral summit earlier such as sharing missile alert information in real-time and strengthening defense ties for missile provocations.

U.S. State Department also agreed that the failed launch was a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and urged Pyongyang to stop illicit and threatening activities. Washington added that it still pursues dialogue without preconditions with North Korea.

North Korea would likely launch a satellite in the direction of the West Sea, the Japanese Coast Guard said, after Pyongyang gave a notification that it would designate three marine danger zones. These zones would include two areas in the West Sea and the eastern part of the Philippines' Pacific Coast. Kyodo News reported that the planned launch seems to be a retry of Pyongyang's military reconnaissance satellite launch in May 2023.

North Korea had notified Japan about that launch on May 29th and launched a satellite two days after that but it failed as the rocket fell into the West Sea minutes after launch. North Korea's aerospace development administration said that the newly built engine and fuel that had been used to launch the rocket were the reasons for the failure and pledged to try again soon. Experts said that May's launch was possibly affected by political issues as there could have been pressure for North Korea to succeed in putting the satellite into orbit ahead of the so-called Victory Day in July.

"This could indicate that North Korea has figured out the reason for the previous failure, so we might want to keep an eye on that. Pyongyang might have also targeted the Seoul-Washington joint military drills." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had reportedly ordered officials to finish the technological preparation for a military spy satellite as one of the regime's top priorities for the second half of the year.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service earlier said that the satellite would likely be launched in late August or early September to celebrate national foundation day. Meanwhile, following the notice, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly called on related ministries to cooperate in gathering information and said that Tokyo would closely work with Seoul and Washington on the matter. The Japanese Coast Guard has also issued an alert to warn seafarers. South Korea's Unification Ministry also condemned Pyongyang's plan saying it is a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. It also urged North Korea to immediately withdraw the plan.

South Korea's defense chief denounced North Korea for its second attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit, calling it a "clear provocation." The defense ministry also said that there was an abnormality in the second stage of the rocket, contrary to what the regime had claimed earlier. South Korea's head of national defense denounced North Korea's second attempted satellite launch, stating that the regime had, yet again, seriously violated UN Security Council resolutions. Speaking to lawmakers at a session of the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly on 25 August 2023, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup added that North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles were the most serious threat to South Korea's national security.

"This is a grave violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a clear provocation against peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community." The defense ministry assessed that the second launch was carried out to make up for its first failed attempt in May. It was also believed to be an attempt to demonstrate Pyongyang's capabilities, and a response to the ongoing Seoul-Washington military exercise, as well as the new trilateral cooperation agreement among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

Contrary to North Korea's claims, the ministry revealed that it spotted an abnormality in the second stage of the rocket. Pyongyang had announced that the first and second stages ignited according to plan, while the third stage failed due to an error in the emergency blasting system. The minister added that South Korea and the U.S. have been cooperating and sharing information to carry out a search for debris following the failed launch. Lee also vowed stronger trilateral security cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo. "Through the security cooperation solidified during the trilateral summit, we will lower the risk of North Korea's provocations and further strengthen our security."

In response to the regime's latest provocation, the UN Security Council was set to convene a session on 25 August 2023. The meeting is to take place at the request of seven member countries and South Korea.

Meanwhile, the North had yet to announce the failure of the launch on domestic media, with pundits saying this could be to save face.