The flight marked the nuclear-armed state’s sixth satellite launch attempt and its first since 2016. It was expected to put North Korea’s first spy satellite into orbit.
Alleged launch vehicle with “abnormal flight”
Shortly before, the South Korean general staff had suggested that the launch of the satellite might not have gone according to plan. This is indicated by the “abnormal flight” of the alleged carrier rocket, the launch of which the South Korean general staff announced on Wednesday morning (local time).
The missile landed in the sea west of the Korean Peninsula. South Korean and US authorities continue to analyze the process, it said.
South Korea withdraws warning and speaks of mistake
The city of Seoul, where sirens were wailing, sent out a warning to all cellphones, urging residents to prepare for a possible evacuation and “get children and the elderly to safety first.”
A little later, the Ministry of the Interior announced that the warning issued by the city administration had been “published incorrectly”.
Also Japan on alert
The Japanese government also issued an emergency warning to residents of southern Okinawa Prefecture early Wednesday morning via its J-Alert broadcasting system, saying a missile had been launched from North Korea.
The Japanese government later stated that the missile would not fly over Japanese territory and lifted the warnings.
Chancellor Scholz made a short visit to South Korea. There he was received by President Yoon and visited the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea.
05/21/2023 | 00:18 min
North Korea had announced a satellite launch
On Monday, the Japanese coast guard said North Korea had informed Japan about an upcoming satellite launch between May 31 and June 11, but without being specific.
Satellite missile to conceal long-range missiles?
Pyongyang does not usually provide advance notice of missile launches, but has so far informed international institutions about allegedly peaceful plans for satellite launches.
Tokyo and Seoul have criticized the planned missile launch, which violates UN sanctions that ban Pyongyang from testing ballistic missile technology.
Since long-range missiles and launch vehicles share the same technology, experts say North Korea’s ability to send satellites into space could mask tests of banned ICBMs.
How the Kim dynasty manages to never disappear from the world spotlight:
North Korea: a dwarf geographically, but an important strategist geopolitically. Preview the documentary.
06/01/2023 | 43:26 mins