Attempt To Put Second Reconnaissance Satellite Into Orbit By North Korea Ends In Failure

The failed rocket is an attempt by North Korea to put a second reconnaissance satellite into orbit around the Earth.

PYONGYANG - North Korean state-run media has reported a failed launch of a reconnaissance satellite it dubbed "Malligyong-1-1" on May 27th aboard the "new-type satellite carrier rocket" at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan County of North Phyongan Province in North Korea.

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The statement was released after South Korean and Japanese officials reported that a launch by North Korea appeared to have ended in failure. The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported, "North Korea fired the projectile on a southern path off its west coast at around 10:44 p.m. (1344 GMT)". 

It added that it detected debris coming from the rocket which fell into the Yellow Sea (aka North Sea) two minutes after it was launched.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said of the launch, "These launches are in violation of relevant security council resolutions and are a serious matter concerning the safety of our people". 

The Deputy director general of North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) said, "The launch of the new satellite carrier rocket failed when it exploded in mid-air during the flight of the first stage".

The U.S. military released a statement on the launch, which it used "ballistic missile technology, which, is a brazen violation of multiple unanimous UN Security Council resolutions".

North Korea cited the vice general director of NATA as saying that the launch failed "due to the air blast of the new-type satellite carrier rocket during the first-stage flight".

The statement cited experts who it said examined the field headquarters of the "non-permanent preparatory committee for launching satellites," and said that the cause of the accident "is attributable to the reliability of operation of the newly developed liquid oxygen + petroleum engine".

The statement released by North Korea's state-run media added that other causes, "will be examined". 

North Korea's Attempt To Put Second Reconnaissance Satellite Into Orbit Ended in Failure: