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ConflictsNorth Korea

North Korea satellite had 'no military utility,' Seoul says

July 5, 2023

South Korea has ended a 36-day salvage operation after the North failed to launch a spy satellite in orbit. The satellite plunged into the sea, with the South Korean government analyzing the wreckage.

https://p.dw.com/p/4TQeQ
Objects salvaged by South Korea's military that are presumed to be parts of the North Korean space-launch vehicle that crashed into sea following a launch failure, are displayed at the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek.
South Korea retrieved wreckage of the presumed satellite to gain insight into North Korea's space launch capabilities Image: YNA/AP/picture alliance

The satellite North Korea failed to put into orbit had no meaningful military use, South Korea's military said on Wednesday after analyzing its wreckage.

What did South Korea find out about the satellite?

In May, North Korea had attempted to put what it called its first spy satellite in orbit but the rocket carrying it crashed into the sea off the Korean Peninsula's west coast minutes after liftoff.

The crash prompted a South Korean salvage operation that lasted 36 days and involved mobilizing a fleet of naval rescue ships, minesweepers and deep-sea divers.

The South Korean military said on Wednesday that it had ended the salvage operations.

"After detailed analysis on major parts of North Korea's space launch vehicle and satellite which were salvaged, South Korean and US experts have assessed that they had no military utility as a reconnaissance satellite at all," it said in a statement.

Pyongyang stays mum on findings

North Korea did not immediately respond to the South's announcement.

The United States, South Korea, and Japan had denounced North Korea's satellite launch on May 31 as a violation of United Nations resolutions prohibiting nuclear-armed Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said that acquiring a military spy satellite is key to boosting Pyongyang's defense capabilities.

North Korea has also vowed to launch a second satellite after May’s failure.

dvv/wd (AP, AFP, Reuters)