(Bloomberg) — A North Korean rocket carrying a spy satellite exploded shortly after launch in a setback for leader Kim Jong Un, who went to Russia last year to seek help in putting a series of reconnaissance probes into orbit.
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Video footage from the South Korean military and Japanese public broadcaster NHK reportedly showed the rocket disintegrating into a fireball after launch on Monday evening. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said debris from the missile ended up in waters off North Korea’s west coast.
North Korea’s official media said “the launch failed due to the air burst of the new satellite launch vehicle during its maiden flight.” The rocket was carrying a military reconnaissance satellite and the problems were caused by problems with a newly developed engine that used liquid oxygen and petroleum, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Weapons expert Jeffrey Lewis wrote in a post on the social media platform He added: “the rocket structure experiences a lot of stress as it penetrates the atmosphere.”
This was North Korea’s fourth attempt to launch a spy satellite since last year, with three attempts ending in failure shortly after launch and a launch in November successfully placing a probe into orbit. It remains to be seen whether there was any influence from Russia on the design of the new engine, which was rolled out for use after President Vladimir Putin pledged to help him with his space program during a summit with Kim in September.
Kim plans to launch three spy satellites in 2024, KCNA reported after a policy-setting meeting of top officials in the final days of December. The satellites could help him monitor U.S. forces in the region and improve his ability to attack targets as he upgrades his nuclear arsenal.
North Korea announced the launch early Monday, prompting the U.S., South Korea and Japan to call on Kim to halt his plans. The three have said the technology used for missiles supports Pyongyang’s ballistic missile program and violates United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The launch also came hours after China, Japan and South Korea held their first summit since 2019. Tokyo and Seoul called on Beijing, which has been Pyongyang’s main benefactor for years, to use its influence to rein in Kim’s nuclear ambitions.
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The US and its partners have also accused Kim of sending vast amounts of munitions to Putin to help in his war against Ukraine, in exchange for aid that will boost North Korea’s military and economy. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the claims.
(Updating and rewriting. An earlier version has been corrected to change the name of the North Korean news agency)
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