(2nd LD) N. Korea says it successfully placed spy satellite into orbit, will launch more

▲ This photo provided by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on June 1, 2023, shows the launch of the North's new "Chollima-1" rocket, allegedly carrying a military reconnaissance satellite, "Malligyong-1," from Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province at 6:29 a.m. the previous day. The projectile fell into waters some 200 kilometers west of the South's southwestern island of Eocheong following its flight over waters far west of the border island of Baengnyeong. In just about 2 1/2 hours after the launch, the North confirmed its failure, citing the "abnormal starting of the second-stage engine." (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) N Korea-spy satellite

(2nd LD) N. Korea says it successfully placed spy satellite into orbit, will launch more

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES throughout with latest details paras 1-8; COMBINES with a related story)

By Kim Eun-jung and Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Wednesday it has successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit and will launch several more satellites "in a short span of time" to secure its reconnaissance capabilities against South Korea.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the North launched a reconnaissance satellite called Malligyong-1 on a new-type Chollima-1 rocket from a launch site in Tongchang-ri on the west coast at 10:42 p.m. Tuesday.

The purported success followed two earlier botched launch attempts in May and August, respectively. It came amid growing speculation that Russia might have provided the North with military technology in return for the North's supply of military equipment and munitions for use in Russia's war in Ukraine.

"The carrier rocket 'Chollima-1' flew normally along the preset flight track and accurately put the reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyong-1' on its orbit at 22:54:13, 705s after the launch," KCNA said in an English-language report.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the launch at the site and congratulated officials, scientists and technicians associated with the launch preparations, it said.

The launch defied warnings from South Korea and the United States that the launch, if carried out, would run afoul of multiple U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions banning any test using ballistic missile technology. Seoul said it would take steps to suspend part of a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement.

The North defended the satellite launch as its "legitimate" right to strengthen "self-defensive capabilities" and vowed to launch several additional spy satellites "in a short span of time," according to KCNA.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) did not confirm whether the satellite successfully entered the orbit, saying in-depth analysis is underway.

"Although North Korea claimed it successfully launched the satellite, it can be considered an actual success when the satellite circles the earth in orbit several times," a Seoul official said, asking not to be named.

South Korea and the U.S. will maintain a robust defense posture to closely monitor the North's activities to respond to its provocations, the JCS said.

"North Korea's military satellite launch constitutes a provocative act that blatantly violates the U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting its use of ballistic missile technology as well as scientific and technological cooperation," the JCS said in a text message to reporters.

The JCS said that South Korea, the U.S. and Japan had deployed Aegis destroyers near the planned flight path in advance to jointly detect and track the North's satellite and shared relevant information shortly after the launch.

Tuesday's launch came hours before the beginning of a 10-day launch window that the North had given Japan earlier as a safety warning, saying it would launch a satellite-carrying space rocket sometime between Wednesday and Dec. 1.

Following the launch, South Korea's presidential National Security Council (NSC) said it will take steps to suspend part of the inter-Korean military agreement, which was signed with an aim to reduce cross-border tensions and prevent accidental clashes.

The agreement calls for setting up buffer zones and no-fly zones near the inter-Korean border that include a ban on artillery firing, naval drills and surveillance activities to prevent clashes between the two Koreas.

The White House said that the U.S. "strongly" condemns the North's launch, which it called a "brazen" violation of multiple UNSC resolutions.

Seoul and Washington have expressed concerns over Pyongyang's preparations for a spy satellite launch with technological assistance from Russia following a rare summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said during Sunday's media interview that North Korea is believed to have overcome its engine problems in its satellite with Russia's assistance.

A military spy satellite is among the high-tech weapons that the North has vowed to develop to enhance its defense capability, which also include solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and a nuclear-powered submarine.

Tuesday's launch came hours after USS Carl Vinson arrived at a naval base in the southeastern city of Busan.

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