N. Korea makes progress in satellite program amid deepening defense ties with Russia
A new type of Chollima-1 rocket carrying a reconnaissance satellite called the Malligyong-1 lifts off from the launching pad at the Sohae satellite launch site in Tongchang-ri in northwestern North Korea, Nov. 21, in this photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
North Korea appears to have made progress in its satellite program with technological assistance from Russia to enhance its surveillance on South Korea and effectiveness of its ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, experts said Wednesday.
North Korea's state media said the country successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit Tuesday night and will launch several more satellites within a short period of time to keep an eye on South Korea and "the region of operational interest."
There has been no confirmation whether the satellite entered the orbit from South Korea, the United States or Japan, which have been coordinating to track and evaluate the launch, the third following two failed attempts earlier this year.
Experts said the North's first military satellite, if confirmed operating normally, would raise the level of threat posed by the hostile neighbor by enhancing its precision strike capability of major targets of South Korea and U.S. troops stationed in the nation.
"If the satellite launch was successful, it is expected to significantly contribute to enhancing the North Korean tactical nuclear force's precision strike capabilities by closely monitoring the preemptive strike targets of South Korea and the U.S. through the reconnaissance satellite system," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at South Korea's Kyungnam University. "This essentially means the North's advancement of preemptive strike capabilities."
Pyongyang has claimed it has a "sovereign right" to bolster its defense capabilities against the U.S.-led space monitoring system and defended its reconnaissance satellite development.
A military spy satellite is among the high-tech weapons that the North has vowed to develop to enhance its defense capability, which also includes solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and a nuclear-powered submarine.
North Korea's first satellite launch attempt ended in failure on May 31, a few minutes into flight due to an abnormal startup in the second stage engine. South Korea retrieved its debris and evaluated the North Korean satellite was too crude to function even if it is placed in orbit.
Shortly after a second launch on Aug. 24, the North said the rocket had problems with the emergency blasting system in the third stage engine. Parts of the rocket crashed down about 600 kilometers east of the Philippines.
Seoul officials earlier said the North's space rocket is thought to be equipped with the Paektusan liquid-fuel engine modeled after the Soviet-made RD-250 twin engine.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un cheers after a new type of Chollima-1 rocket carrying a reconnaissance satellite called the Malligyong-1 is launched from the Sohae satellite launch site in Tongchang-ri in northwestern North Korea, Nov. 21, in this photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
Given the short three-month gap between the second and third launch, analysts suspect North Korea could have taken advantage of Russian engineers' technological know-how for the latest launch.
"North Korea's designating the same flight path suggests that it may have fixed problems in the engine and fueling system, without major changes in the existing launch vehicle," Hong Min, a researcher at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said.
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said during Sunday's media interview that North Korea is believed to have overcome its engine problems in its satellite with Russia's assistance.
Seoul and Washington officials have accused Russia of providing technology and support for North Korea's military programs in return for munitions and other weapons for its war in Ukraine. Both Pyongyang and Moscow deny the alleged arms transfer deal as groundless.
Chang Young-keun, a professor at Korea Aerospace University in South Korea, said the North's satellite can be considered a success only if it normally sends signals to Pyongyang's ground control station, which could take one or two months to verify.
As Pyongyang announced plans to send more satellites into space, observers said the North may seek to acquire advanced technology from Russia to shore up their performances.
"As North Korea announced its plan to launch several more satellites in a short period of time, it is believed to have already prepared parts for several satellite launches," Chang said.
"If North Korea seeks to receive assistance for satellite technology from Russia, it could consider securing hardware technology, such as sensors, actuators and on-board computers, to improve its performance, which is difficult to develop on its own," he added.
The North's satellite launch is expected to heat up the inter-Korean arms race in space as South Korea is set to launch its first indigenous reconnaissance satellite on Falcon 9, U.S. aerospace company SpaceX's rocket, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Nov. 30.
In response to the North's satellite launch in defiance of repeated warnings, South Korea announced that it will suspend part of a 2018 military tension reduction agreement and resume surveillance and reconnaissance activities near the inter-Korean border.
"The heated arms race between the two Koreas is expected to further escalate the military standoff on the Korean Peninsula, raising the probability of a war," said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in South Korea. (Yonhap)