Korea successfully conducts test flight of solid-fuel space vehicle: defense ministry
A test-firing of a solid-fuel rocket is seen from the photo above in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
South Korea successfully conducted a test flight of a solid-fuel space launch vehicle on Friday, the defense ministry said, nine months after its first test of the homegrown rocket.
The state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD) carried out the test as part of efforts to strengthen "independent" space-based reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities, according to the ministry. It did not disclose the venue of the test.
"This flight test is a follow-up to the test on March 30 and we will achieve progress through the development process over the next several years," the ministry said in a text message sent to reporters.
It added, "Our military will double down on efforts to reinforce defense capabilities, including for the space domain."
The test came as North Korea has been pushing to acquire a solid-fuel long-range missile and a military reconnaissance satellite. (Yonhap)