North Korea confirmed on Wednesday that it had succeeded in placing its first military spy satellite into orbit, after launching a space rocket that was monitored by Seoul and Tokyo.
North Korea’s Central News Agency reported, “The Chollima-1 space rocket flew normally along its predetermined path and accurately placed the Malyjeong-1 satellite into its orbit (…) 705 seconds after its launch.”
The alleged successful launch from Pyongyang, which has not yet been confirmed by the United States or South Korea, follows two failed attempts in May and August, Effie reported.
The event was supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the official North Korean news agency.
North Korea defended placing its satellite in orbit as part of its legitimate right to enhance its defense capabilities, and promised to launch more of these intelligence devices “in a short period of time,” according to a KCNA memo reported by the agency. South Korea’s Yonhap.
The same source in Pyongyang added that the launch “will make a significant contribution to permanently strengthening the military capabilities of the North Korean armed forces.”
The South Korean military announced on Tuesday that it had discovered “what North Korea claims is a military reconnaissance satellite” that had been “launched in the southern direction of the Tongchang-ri region, in the northwest of the country, where its launch is located at the Sohae launch base.”
The launch also caused Japan’s national anti-missile system to activate for a few minutes, through which a message was sent to residents of Okinawa Prefecture (southwest), warning of “an apparent missile launch from North Korea” and recommending “protection inside the building or underground.”
According to Western sources, North Korea may have relied on technological assistance and advice from Moscow for its new launch, following a September summit between the North Korean leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which served to solidify an agreement aimed at cooperation and trade between the countries. In the military and space field.
Seoul, Washington and Tokyo condemned the launch and confirmed that it was a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting these exchanges and also Pyongyang’s launch of space missiles, considering it the use of secret technology for intercontinental ballistic missiles. ICBM).
South Korea partially suspends the military agreement with the North
The South Korean government on Wednesday announced the partial suspension of the 2018 military agreement with the North, after Pyongyang placed its first military spy satellite into orbit.
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