According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the satellite launch failed due to a rocket malfunction.
North Korea has launched what it claims to be a space satellite, the South Korean military said early Wednesday morning local time.
According to the South Korean Defense Forces, the ship launched by North Korea disappeared from radar shortly after launch. The military later said the craft’s flight was abnormal, meaning the launch may have failed. According to the South Koreans, the rocket landed near the west coast of the Korean peninsula.
According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the satellite launch failed due to a rocket malfunction. According to the state media, the ship plunged into the sea.
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, sent an alert via text message, urging citizens to prepare for evacuation. Air raid alarms were reported in the city early Wednesday morning. However, South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior soon said that the warning had been sent in error.
Japan warned residents of its southern Okinawa region about North Korea’s missile launch, but also quickly withdrew the warning.
– North Korea appears to launch a missile. Take shelter inside buildings or underground, warned the alert shown on the Japanese public broadcasting company NHK.
– It is expected that the previously reported missile will not come to Japan. The evacuation order will be lifted, the Japanese government said.
North Korea said it would launch a spy satellite in June
North Korea confirmed on Tuesday that it will launch a military intelligence satellite between May 31 and June 11. According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the intelligence satellite is needed to monitor the movements of the US armed forces and its allies.
North Korea has said it has completed development of its first military spy satellite, and that the country’s leader Kim Jong-un has approved the final preparations for the launch.
Japan has suspected North Korea of planning a satellite launch under the guise of a missile test with a ballistic missile. North Korea tested ballistic missiles in 2012 and 2016, but claimed they were satellite launches. Both of these flew over the Okinawa region of Japan.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, AP