On May 27, at around 10:44 p.m., North Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite southward from the Dongchang-ri area in North Pyongan Province, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Republic of Korea. The Japan Coast Guard also announced that a projectile, suspected to be a ballistic missile, was launched from North Korea. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, “The North Korean projectile was detected as multiple fragments in the air at around 10:46 p.m. and is assessed to have exploded midair.”
In the early hours of May 28, North Korea officially announced that a new rocket’s first stage exploded midair during the launch of the reconnaissance satellite, declaring the launch a failure. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s state news agency, reported that “the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1-1 was launched from the Seohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, but it exploded midflight during the first stage.” KCNA, citing the country’s National Aerospace Development Administration, stated, “The preliminary conclusion is that the cause of the accident lies in the operation of the newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine.”
Earlier, North Korea had notified Japan of its intention to launch a rocket carrying a satellite by June 4. This surprise provocation coincided with a trilateral summit between South Korea, China, and Japan, which was interpreted as an intentional act. The provocation occurred just eight hours after the leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.
On the night of May 27, after receiving news of North Korea’s launch, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Okinawa Prefecture issued a J-Alert, the system designed to quickly inform the public of threats and emergencies such as earthquakes, severe weather, and other dangers. NHK released a video captured by Chinese cameras showing a thin red light rising into the sky from North Korea, which grew larger after several seconds.
Earlier this year, North Korea was expected to launch its second military reconnaissance satellite, but technical issues caused delays, according to South Korean military authorities. It is suspected that Russian technicians provided ballistic missile-related technology. Since last year, there have been indications that North Korea has been receiving satellite launch technology in exchange for supplying Russia with artillery shells and ballistic missiles depleted by the war in Ukraine.
If North Korea successfully deploys a reconnaissance satellite, it would significantly enhance the precision of its ballistic and cruise missiles aimed at South Korea, posing a major security threat, according to South Korean military sources. Assuming the first military reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, launched last November, is essentially nonfunctional, the second satellite could serve as the North Korean military’s eyes. North Korea already possesses a variety of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads that can strike targets in South Korea, including military bases in Gunsan and operational bases in Busan.
A South Korean military intelligence source stated, “So far, North Korea has lacked effective satellite reconnaissance capabilities, making it difficult to utilize such weapons effectively. However, if the second reconnaissance satellite operates normally, it would pose a significant threat to South Korea, a non-nuclear state.”
