SEOUL: South Korean army said on Thursday that North Korea has fired a “space launch vehicle,” Western media reported. In a statement, South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea had fired “what Pyongyang claims is a space launch vehicle” without offering more information and details.
North Korea Fires ‘Space Launch Vehicle’: South Korea Army
The launch was first signalled by Tokyo, which said Pyongyang had fired a suspected missile. The Kyodo news agency quoted the government officials in Tokyo as saying the rocket had flown over Japan’s territory.
North Korea told Japan’s coast guard forces on Tuesday that its launch would occur between August 24 and 31, prompting Japan to mobilize PAC-3 missile defence system and ships in case anything was to land in its area.
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South Korea said such a launch is “an unlawful act” because it breaches UN sanctions prohibiting North Korea from tests utilizing ballistic technology, which is utilized for both missiles and space launches.
The recent launch came days after US, Japan, and North Korean leaders met at Camp David in the US, with Pyongyang’s increasing nuclear threats a main item on the agenda.
In May, North Korea launched what it termed as its first army reconnaissance satellite, but the skyrocket carrying it, the “Chollima-1” — named following a mythical horse that frequently features in official propaganda — jumped into the sea minutes after departure.
