The Japanese Ministry of Defense analyzed on May 27 that the satellite launched by North Korea in the West Sea sky did not reach space.
According to NHK World Japan, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara held a press conference on May 28. He announced, “Based on the close information sharing between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, North Korea forcefully launched a missile using ballistic missile technology to launch a satellite from Dongchang-ri around 10:43 PM.” Kihara explained, “A few minutes later, it disappeared in the sky of the West Sea, and we presume that no object has entered space.”
North Korea had previously notified the Japan Coast Guard that it would launch a satellite rocket between May 27 and June 4.
Kihara warned that North Korea could provoke again within the notified period, stating, “We will devote all our efforts to collecting necessary information, analyzing, and monitoring vigilantly.”
North Korea quickly acknowledged the failure of the military reconnaissance satellite launch.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, on May 27, North Korea launched the Malligyong-1-1 from the West Sea Satellite Launch Site in Cholsan, Pyonganbuk-do. The recently developed rocket’s first stage exploded in flight.
The deputy director of the National Aerospace Technology Administration said, “In the expert review of the emergency satellite launch preparation committee’s field command, a preliminary conclusion was made that the cause of the accident lies in the reliability of the operation of the recently developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine,” and explained, “We will also consider other potential causes.”
Meanwhile, there is speculation that North Korea may have deliberately delayed the satellite launch.
In an interview with NHK World Japan, Hiraiwa Shunji, a leading Korean Peninsula expert in Japan, said, “North Korea may have wanted to launch a little earlier, but there is a possibility that it was postponed out of consideration for China, who was attending the Korea-China-Japan summit.”
Hiraiwa added, “There may have been technical problems in the preparation stage for the satellite launch, which may have taken time to overcome. It gives the impression that it has become quite difficult for North Korea to launch three military reconnaissance satellites as planned this year. Still, they may want to prepare for a launch in a very short period and make their declaration a reality.”