North Korea’s ‘impatience’ could be on the rise, The reason for the first reconnaissance satellite of South Korea’s military.

The Nuri, a Korean-made space launch vehicle, is launched from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, on May 25 (archive photo). ⓒKorea Aerospace Research Institute/Newsis

Amid difficulties in introducing the military reconnaissance satellite, which is North Korea’s key project this year, our military announced plans to launch a military reconnaissance satellite from the United States on the 30th of this month. As North and South Korea have been in an ‘unspoken competition’ over satellites, it is noteworthy whether North Korea, which has passed the announced launch schedule, will show signs of impatience.

Defense Minister Suh Wook announced at a press briefing on the 3rd that our military’s first independent reconnaissance satellite will be launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, on the 30th.

The plan is to launch our satellite using the Falcon 9 engine of SpaceX, founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Minister Suh said, “I understand that the president does not plan to go there (to the launch site).”

In addition, our military is known to plan to launch a solid engine under development within this year.

North, Launched Satellite Six Days After Nuri’s Success but Exploded in Midair

Unlike South Korea, which is smoothly continuing the development of Korean-made launch vehicles and the introduction of reconnaissance satellites, North Korea is in a humiliating situation due to repeated satellite explosions in midair.

In fact, North Korea attempted the first satellite launch on May 31, six days after the successful launch of the Korean-made launch vehicle Nuri, but it failed.

Although it is evaluated that North Korea launched according to its own plan, the analysis that it may have rushed in consideration of us has gained momentum.

In the same context, as our military publicly announced the satellite launch at the end of this month, there is a view that North Korea may try to show success faster than us.

In fact, intelligence and military authorities have announced that North Korea is repeatedly testing engines. It is analyzed that it is accelerating preparations for re-launching the satellite.

Meanwhile, night lights have been detected several times at the Dongchang-ri Sohae Satellite Launching Station in North Pyongan Province since mid-last month. The Sohae Satellite Launching Station is the place where North Korea launched satellites in May and August.

Van Diepen, former U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation, said in a Voice of America (VOA) broadcast, “We cannot definitively say that the light captured at night signals a launch,” but also added, “It is clear that work is being done at the launch site.”

Military: “North Korea’s Launch Difficult Within 1-2 Weeks”

Our military’s position regarding the timing of North Korea’s satellite re-launch is ‘difficult to launch in a short period of time.’

Minister Suh said, “(North Korea) announced a launch in October, but October has already ended,” and “The key is whether it can be done in November. Looking at the identified signs, it doesn’t seem likely to happen within 1-2 weeks.”

However, he also said, “We need to wait and see the situation,” and “There may be a possibility of doing it around the end of November.”

Minister Suh explained the background of the cancellation of the October launch announced by North Korea, saying, “It seems to take time to reinforce the 3-stage engine,” and “Even if North Korea fails, it may try to launch it again on its own, but perhaps technical guidance from Russia has come and delayed the time.” He added, “We are putting more weight on the latter.”

In light of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s public mention of the possibility of cooperation with North Korea on satellites, there is speculation that the North Korean launch schedule has been delayed due to the influence of Russian technical advice.