hankyoreh

North Korea’s Dec. 12 attempt to launch a rocket appears to have been successful. The rocket followed its intended trajectory, according to South Korean Ministry of Defense.

North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency reported, “The second version of satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 successfully lifted off from the Sohae Space Center by carrier rocket Unha-3 on Wednesday. The satellite entered its preset orbit.”

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) released a statement saying that North Korea appeared to have launched an ‘object’ into orbit.

“North American Aerospace Defense Command officials acknowledged today that U.S. missile warning systems detected and tracked the launch of a North Korean missile at 7:49 p.m. EST,” NORAD said in its statement. “The missile was tracked on a southerly azimuth. Initial indications are that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea. The second stage was assessed to fall into the Philippine Sea. Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit. At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America.”

The three-stage rocket was launched from the Dongchang village launch pad at 9:51 a.m. (local time), with its first stage falling in the Yellow Sea, and its second stage in waters off the Philippines, according to South Korean officials.

South Korea’s defense minister Kim Kwan-jin said that the first two stages of the rocket appeared to have separated successfully.

When asked about preparations for the Wednesday launch, Kim said, “We were always preparing.”

The launch came as a surprise, as on Dec. 10 North Korea extended the launch window by one week. Also, there were news reports on Dec. 11 that the rocket had been disassembled for transfer. Some South Korean government officials said called the North Korean announcement of postponement a deliberately deceptive move.

The successful launch is likely meant to show the North Korean regime’s launch capability before the first anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong-il on Dec. 17.

North Korea says their rocket is aimed at putting a satellite in orbit, but South Korea, the U.S. and other nations see the launch as a cover for a test of ballistic missile technology, which violates U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874.

The South Korean government called the launch a “threat to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the world.” The U.S. government called it “a highly provocative act” that is “yet another example of North Korea’s pattern of irresponsible behavior.”

The UN Security Council is expected to convene an emergency meeting on the morning of Dec. 12 (EST), as requested by South Korea.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]