Video Captures North Korean Rocket Stage Exploding After Satellite Launch

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Facts

  • North Korea launched its first spy satellite into orbit on Tuesday, after the country's two earlier attempts this year resulted in rocket crashes during flight. A South Korean astronomical observatory later obtained footage of a stage of North Korea's satellite launch rocket exploding after separation.1
  • The Chollima-1 rocket is seen on video, captured by Yonsei University in Seoul, crossing the sky before its expended disposable booster separates. Then, the lowest stage briefly disappears before erupting in a flash and debris cloud.2
  • Yonsei University astronomy professor Byun Yong-Ik told Reuters: 'this time they appear to have detonated the first-stage propellant in mid-air.' Byun speculated that the explosion 'may have been an attempt to prevent South Korean and American authorities from recovering the propellant,' as the incident hadn't been witnessed in previous launches.3
  • On Thursday, the South Korean defense ministry claimed to be searching for rocket debris, with the aim of recovering it. After the first Chollima-1 launch in May, the South Korean and US navies retrieved pieces of the rocket after it fell into the sea between the Korean peninsula and China, including its satellite payload, which they declared 'was not suitable for military use.'4
  • South Korea has accused Russia of giving technical assistance to North Korea for this most recent launch, which Moscow has denied. Experts have stated that recovering pieces of the rocket could provide important information about its components and capabilities.2

Sources: 1WION, 2Ars Technica, 3Phile and 4Reuters.

Narratives

  • Anti-North Korea Narrative, as provided by US News & World Report. Prior to North Korea's satellite launch, the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed his concern that North Korea was receiving military-technical assistance from Russia and China. Breaking sanctions from the UN Security Council is unacceptable, and UN states and South Korea must now fulfill their pledge to respond jointly to any aggression towards the South by North Korea.
  • Pro-North Korea narrative, as provided by TASS. There is absolutely no evidence to support accusations that Russia allegedly has provided illegal military-technological assistance to the DPRK. Claims that North Korea has circumvented arms control sanctions are deliberate attempts by the West to inflame tensions with Pyongyang and its allies.

Predictions