Kim Jong Un Delighted as Military Reconnaissance Satellite Takes Flight

Surprise Third Launch of Military Reconnaissance Satellite the Previous Night
North Korea: “Successfully Entered Orbit with Precision.”

On the 22nd, North Korea announced the successful launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, carried out the previous night. Kim Jong Un watched the flames of the launch vehicle Cheollima – 1 and cheered with the workers.

North Korea Announces Successful Satellite Launch

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the day, “The National Aerospace Development Administration successfully launched the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 on a new type of satellite carrier rocket Cheollima – 1 at 22:42:28 on November 21, 2023, from the West Sea Satellite Launch Site in Cholsan County, Pyonganbuk-do.” The North Korean media announcement came about three hours after the satellite launch.

The agency further explained, “Cheollima-1 followed the planned flight orbit and successfully entered the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 into orbit at 22:54:13, 705 seconds after the launch.” They also claimed, “The launch of the reconnaissance satellite is a legitimate right to strengthen self-defense, and it will greatly contribute to firmly enhancing the war readiness posture of the Republic’s forces in line with the safe environment created by the dangerous military moves of the enemies in the country and the surrounding area.”

The agency added that the National Aerospace Development Administration plans to submit a plan to launch several more reconnaissance satellites in a short period.

Kim Jong Un’s Presence and Comments

The revealed scene showed Chairman Kim observing the launch on-site. Chairman Kim appeared with patches of white hair. His daughter, often accompanying him on major inspections recently, was absent. The photos did not identify major executives, including Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party. The agency reported that Chairman Kim “warmly congratulated the executives, scientists, and technicians of the National Aerospace Development Administration and related institutions who accurately and excellently carried out the decision of the 8th Congress of the Workers’ Party.”

Chairman Kim had previously proposed a “combat task to firmly build reconnaissance information collection capabilities by satellite by continuously deploying several reconnaissance satellites” during his on-site guidance at the National Space Development Agency in April.

Previous Launch Attempts

North Korea had previously launched the space launch vehicle Cheollima – 1 carrying the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 for the first time on May 31. Still, it failed to ignite the second-stage rocket and crashed into the sea about 200 km west of Ohcheong Island in Gunsan, Jeonbuk. The second launch on August 24 failed in abnormal flight in the second-stage propulsion stage. However, the first stage and fairing (connecting areas between the first and second stages) fell in areas similar to those announced by North Korea.

Change in Launch Schedule

North Korea had notified the Japanese government that it would launch an artificial satellite between 0:00 on the 22nd and 0:00 on the 1st of next month. Still, it launched it ahead of schedule and eventually declared “success.”

Currently, our military is analyzing the success of the separation of the North Korean launch vehicle and the entry of the reconnaissance satellite into space orbit and plans to salvage the debris.

By. Kang Do Rim