FAILURE: Malligyong-1(-0) F1 - Chollima-1 - Sohae - May 30, 2023 2127Z

[Phillip Clark]

The final sentence in this story is the reason for this posting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41803512

[VernierLover]

After Hwasong-15 test, it is almost certain Unha-3 is retired unless they choose to canibalize Hwasong-7's(Rodong's) in case those get replaced by more advanced liquid fuel or solid fuel missile.

Hwasong-15 could possibly without need of 3rd stage put 300kg object into same orbit as Kwangmyongsong 3-2 and 4.

[Satori]

Why North Korea Is Likely Planning a Satellite Launch in 2018

https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/why-north-korea-is-likely-planning-a-satellite-launch-in-2018/?platform=hootsuite

[Vahe231991]

There's a possibility that North Korea might launch a reconnaissance satellite on February 16, the day of the late Kim Jong-il's birth (the official DPRK biography for Kim Jong-il lists his year of birth as 1942, but Soviet records make clear that he was born in 1941).

[Redclaws]

There's a possibility that North Korea might launch a reconnaissance satellite on February 16, the day of the late Kim Jong-il's birth (the official DPRK biography for Kim Jong-il lists his year of birth as 1942, but Soviet records make clear that he was born in 1941).

This is off topic but hopefully not too much of a digression - do you know the reason for the difference?  I would generally assume it’s a propaganda related reason but I can’t imagine what it would be

[Vahe231991]

There's a possibility that North Korea might launch a reconnaissance satellite on February 16, the day of the late Kim Jong-il's birth (the official DPRK biography for Kim Jong-il lists his year of birth as 1942, but Soviet records make clear that he was born in 1941).

This is off topic but hopefully not too much of a digression - do you know the reason for the difference?  I would generally assume it’s a propaganda related reason but I can’t imagine what it would be

The launch of Kwangmyongsong-4 was carried out in 2016 ahead of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Kim Jong-il's birth. It remains to be seen if the DPRK will carry out a space launch to mark Kim Jong-il's birth this month.

[Vahe231991]

Heard this item mentioned on the 9435kHz VOK (Voice of Korea)  shortwave service 28 Feb 2022:

http://www.kcna.kp/en/article/q/a5ed9ba4f90e3e96d0adee0cb2458f43.kcmsf

Cheong Seong-Chang of the Sejong Institute in South Korea speculates that North Korea may launch a spy satellite to mark the 110th anniversary of Kim il-Sung's birth. If the DPRK successfully launches a reconnaissance satellite into orbit this April, it will emulate the USSR in terms of once again mustering the technological capacity to test homegrown military technology despite being hamstrung by the pitfalls of central planning.

[Vahe231991]

Found the latest update on tests of spy equipment for a potential new North Korean spy satellite at this link:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/03/07/north-korea-confirms-new-tests-spy-satellite.html

[Magic]

As heard on 9435kHz VOK 1505z 10 Mar 2022

"military reconnaissance satellites into diverse sun-synchronous polar orbits"

[Steven Pietrobon]

Its a good bet that North Korea will be attempting another satellite launch.

http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/a1ba2235fd47e81cb8c8a8ec79f37f26.kcmsf

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Sohae Satellite Launching Ground

Pyongyang, March 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground.

Accompanying him were Kim Jong Sik, Jang Chang Ha and other leading officials of the munitions industry and national defence scientific research sectors and officials concerned of the National Aerospace Development Administration.

Going round different parts of the ground, the respected General Secretary set forth a target for modernizing it and the detailed orientation and ways for doing so.

He learned about and evaluated the present state of the ground, and advanced the task to modernize it on an expansion basis so that various rockets could be launched to carry multi-purpose satellites, including a military reconnaissance satellite, in the future. He also set forth the task for building some facilities in the launching ground.

To enable large carrier rockets to be launched there, he assigned the tasks for reconstructing on an expansion basis the launching ground zone and the facilities for the general assembly and trial gearing of rocket and for the trial gearing of satellite, establishing extra facilities for the injection and supply of fuel and modernizing parts of the launch control facility and major technical posts on an expansion basis.

He also gave detailed instructions as regards the matters arising in modernizing the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on an expansion basis, including the matters of expanding the capacity of the engine ground jet test site, ensuring the convenience of carrier rocket transport, improving the ecological environment around the launching ground and building a grandstand in the safe zone opposite to the launching ground.

He said that the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground is a place associated with the desire of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il for a space power and it is a significant place where our state successfully launched artificial satellites twice with its own efforts and technology, true to the lifetime intention of the President and the Chairman. And he stressed that it is the noble duty of our Party and space scientists and technicians in our era to turn the launching ground, associated with our state's great dream and ambition for a space power, into an ultramodern advanced base and a starting line of space conquest for the future suited to the prestige of the DPRK.

Encouraged by his teachings, the officials, scientists and technicians hardened their strong will to turn the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground into the best model suitable for the dignity and prestige of our state by devotedly carrying out the militant tasks set forth by the General Secretary, fully aware of their mission as space pioneers who should surely carry into practice the grand plan of the Party Central Committee for building a space power, true to the behest of the President and the Chairman. -0-

[Steven Pietrobon]

It seems a North Korean ballistic missile test was used to test their photo reconnaisance camera. The last photo shows a ballistic arc at left of screen. The date at the top of the screen is 27 February 2022, which is the date of a recent missile test. Another missile test was conducted on 6 March. Both tests went into the Sea of Japan. The first test had a range of about 300 km and altitude of 600 km. The second test had a range of 270 km and altitude of 560 km.

http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/1fe2ae4345801108027d3b16464fb830.kcmsf

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/27/1083352647/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-in-resumption-of-testing
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/04/world/asia/north-korea-missile-launch.html

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects National Aerospace Development Administration

Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA).

Accompanying him were Department Director Yu Jin and Vice Department Director Kim Jong Sik of the WPK Central Committee.

The respected General Secretary was greeted on the spot by leading officials of the NADA and the Academy of Defence Science.

Kim Jong Un learned in detail, from leading officials of the NADA, about the process of scientific research and development intended to hit the goals for attainment of space defence science and technology set forth at the 8th WPK Congress and the 4th Plenary Meeting of the 8th WPK Central Committee.

After acquainting himself with the development and preparations of optical photographing equipment, video transmitter and other communication data transceivers and various kinds of sensors and devices for satellite, he heard reports on the results of the major tests recently conducted by the NADA.

He expressed his great satisfaction over the fact that they confirmed the aerospace photographing method, the operating characteristics of high-resolution photographing equipment and the reliability of image transmission system through the recent important tests.

Seeing the vertical and oblique high-resolution images on specific ground regions taken through the major tests, he highly appreciated the successes the NADA has recently made in settling the image composing and processing technology, the ability of processing a large volume of data communication, the accuracy of control command system, the technology of communication encryption, etc., true to the space development policy of the Party.

The development of a reconnaissance satellite takes an important share in attaining the five major goals for developing the defence power set forth at the 8th Party Congress, he said, stressing once again the strategic significance of the reconnaissance satellite in enhancing the war deterrent of the state and the capability of war preparedness.

Saying that the development of reconnaissance satellite is not merely a scientific research work for the development of information-gathering means, but a work for the protection of our sovereignty and national interests, the exercise of the legitimate rights to self-defence and the elevation of national prestige, he stressed that this urgent project for perfecting the country's war preparedness capacity by improving our state's war deterrent is the supreme revolutionary task, a political and military priority task to which our Party and government attach the most importance.

He called on the officials, scientists and technicians in the space and defence science research sectors to successfully accomplish the development of a Korean-style reconnaissance satellite within the period set by the Party Central Committee by getting united and closely cooperating with each other, true to the WPK's policies for aerospace development and national defence development.

The General Secretary also learned about the construction of the Academy of Space Science and a cosmic environment experiment center.

Noting that it is very important to lay a solid material and technical foundation for the field of space science research so as to attain the high sci-tech goal for space conquest set forth by our state, he stressed the need to give more state support to the space science research sector and examine the important measures for its steady development.

He said that it is our Party's important strategic and tactical policy on bolstering the national defence capability to keep a close eye on and distinguish the character of hostile military actions against the DPRK committed by the aggression troops of the U.S. imperialism and its vassal forces in and around the Korean Peninsula and enhance the capability for controlling situation and improve the rapid counteraction capability of the armed forces of the state according to the relevant situations. And he set forth the militant goals related to the development and operation of the reconnaissance satellite in the period of the five-year plan to implement this policy.

He noted that the purpose of developing and operating the military reconnaissance satellite is to provide the armed forces of the DPRK with real-time information on military actions against it by the aggression troops of the U.S. imperialism and its vassal forces in south Korea, Japan and the Pacific. And he said that the Party Central Committee fully supports the decision of the National Aerospace Development Administration on putting a lot of military reconnaissance satellites into diverse sun-synchronous polar orbits in the period of the five-year plan so as to possess the strong capability for gathering intelligence by satellites.

He expressed high expectation and belief that the space and national defence scientific research sectors would demonstrate to the full the heroic mettle of the defence scientific group remaining boundlessly faithful to the Party and revolution by rising up in the scientific and research campaign to thoroughly carry out the strategic plan of the Party Central Committee and making strenuous efforts.

Cherishing in their hearts the militant task set forth by the respected General Secretary, all the officials, scientists and technicians made a pledge of loyalty to defend the great dignity of our state with cutting-edge defence science, greatly encouraged by his deep trust that gives invincible strength. -0-

[Steven Pietrobon]

Here's the KCNA news item reporting the 6 March test relating to development of a reconnaissance satellite, but doesn't mention any missile test, which occurred on the same date. Unfortunately, there are no photos.

http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/134a0eb1839cb01381c703e991441821d4e24a0a2d9f3b84ee50c4fe4859843c.kcmsf

NADA and Academy of Defence Science Conduct Another Important Test for Developing Reconnaissance Satellite

Pyongyang, March 6 (KCNA) -- The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite.

Through the test, the NADA confirmed the reliability of data transmission and reception system of the satellite, its control command system and various ground-based control systems. -0-

[Vahe231991]

Here's the KCNA news item reporting the 6 March test relating to development of a reconnaissance satellite, but doesn't mention any missile test, which occurred on the same date. Unfortunately, there are no photos.

http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/134a0eb1839cb01381c703e991441821d4e24a0a2d9f3b84ee50c4fe4859843c.kcmsf

NADA and Academy of Defence Science Conduct Another Important Test for Developing Reconnaissance Satellite

Pyongyang, March 6 (KCNA) -- The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite.

Through the test, the NADA confirmed the reliability of data transmission and reception system of the satellite, its control command system and various ground-based control systems. -0-

It's highly likely that NADA conducted in secret tests of a spy camera reportedly intended for the future North Korean spy satellite that Kim Jong-un has mentioned on occasions. It's common for the photographic apparati of spy satellites to be tested in secret.

[Satori]

Launch expected in April 2023...

On December 18, North Korea Space Development Agency (NADA) conducted a test for reconnaissance satellite development at the Seohae Satellite Launching Station.

A spokesperson for the National Space Development Agency said the main purpose was to “evaluate the capabilities of satellite imaging and data transmission systems and ground control systems”.

A satellite payload equipped with 1 color camera with 20m resolution, and a multi-spectral camera, video transmitter, and other supporting equipment  was launched to an altitude of 500 Km.

The National Space Development Agency announced that it would finish preparing the first military reconnaissance satellite by April 2023.

[Vahe231991]

The name "Unha-3" in the thread title was just the codename for the Paektusan-2 the Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 1 and Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2 launches in 2012 (the failed launch of the Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite was called Unha-2) because the name Kwangmyongsong (the official name for North Korea's satellite class) was inscribed on the first stage of the Paektusan-2 rocket used to loft the Kwangmyongsong-4 into orbit. It is possible that the spy satellite mentioned by Kim Jong-un as under development could be an LEO because the DPRK has yet to master the technological knowhow to make a geosynchronous satellite work, and the earliest American and Soviet spy satellites to be launched were low earth orbit spacecraft.

[John Santos]

The reason early US and Soviet spy satellites were launched into LEO was NOT because LEO was technologically more accessible than GEO.  It was because LEO is 100 times closer to the ground than GEO and GEO would require optics 100 times larger (and about 10,000 times heavier) than LEO to obtain the same resolution.

High-res optical spy satellites are STILL launched into LEO for the same reason.

[Vahe231991]

From Yonhap News:

North Korea's development of a high-thrust engine capable of carrying a rocket has provided a "sure guarantee" for the country to launch various satellites into orbit, according to state media Monday.

Pak Kyong-su, vice director of the National Aerospace Development Administration, made the remarks amid speculation the North is likely to put a military spy satellite into orbit by April.

In an interview by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the North's accession to the international outer space treaty, Pak said the North has made "steady" progress in the work to develop "multi-functional and high-performance" satellites.

"It succeeded in developing high-thrust engine for carrier rocket and thus provided a sure guarantee for launching various kinds of satellites into relevant orbits," Pak said in an English-language dispatch carried by the KCNA.

This is probably the first instance of a member of North Korea's space agency mentioning the eventual incorporation of the Paektusan rocket engine into a new Unha-type SLV (called Unha-X by Norbert Brugge), because even though the Paektusan engine is used to power North Korea's Hwasong-12 IRBM and the Hwasong-14, Hwasong-15, and Hwasong-17 ICBMs, the Korean Central News Agency until now did not mention any tests of the Paektusan rocket motor for the SLV that reportedly is intended to carry a reconnaissance satellite.

[Vahe231991]

https://www.nknews.org/pro/state-media-review-north-korean-state-media-hints-at-imminent-space-launch/

[Vahe231991]

Found the latest on this upcoming launch:
https://www.nknews.org/pro/state-media-review-north-korean-state-media-hints-at-imminent-space-launch/

[Steven Pietrobon]

Here's the North Korean press release on NADA's 10th anniversary. I've highlighted the paragraph that might indicate a launch this year.

http://www.kcna.kp/en/article/q/041f78ba4b3ba3c86550085757f020eb.kcmsf

NADA Marks Its 10th Founding Anniversary

Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- The National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) in the DPRK marked its 10th founding anniversary.

The NADA, founded on April 1, Juche 102 (2013), is the national aerospace development guidance organ which maps out space development plans and supervises and controls their implementation in a unified way.

It has proudly exercised the DPRK's legitimate right to develop space for the past decade and conducted the space conquer activities in the forefront of building a space power. It has grown into a prestigious organ representing the state in the field of space development.

It is a product of the noble loyalty, ardent patriotic desire and will of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un to add eternal shine to the exploits of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il for building a space power and demonstrate the dignity of the country and nation before the whole world.

The prestigious and proud history of development of the NADA can be unthinkable without the leadership of the respected General Secretary who made his tireless efforts and painstaking devotion to realize the great dream and ambition of the DPRK to build a space power.

The DPRK, which had proudly emerged a satellite manufacturer and launcher through the successful launches of test satellites in 1998 and 2009, succeeded in putting the first practical satellite onto orbit on December 12, 2012 on the basis of the accumulated technology and experience.

At that time, the advance into space was intensified in the world and its structure diversified.

With a deep insight into the requirements of socialist construction and the trend of the times, the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un initiated the establishment of a powerful state guidance organ to put the development of outer space of the country on a new higher stage and has wisely led the work for its realization.

The Law of the DPRK on Space Development was promulgated and a decision on establishing the National Aerospace Development Administration was adopted at the Seventh Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly on April 1, 2013.

After organizing the NADA, the General Secretary initiated the construction of the satellite control center, personally chose its site and solved all problems arising in the construction, thus making sure that the construction was completed in a short span of time.

Saying that the NADA has a very important duty to realize the plan of the Workers' Party of Korea for building a space power, he indicated the orientation and ways for dynamically pushing ahead with the space science research and satellite launch.

In January, 2016 when space scientists were stepping up the preparations for the launch of the second practical satellite, he visited the Satellite Control Center of the NADA again and clearly indicated once again the purpose, significance and importance of satellite launch, saying that it is not a merely scientific and technological work but the very important and responsible work to be conducted for the dignity of the country and nation before the world.

On February 7, 2016, Kim Jong Un personally visited the launching site of the earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 and guided the whole process of the launch and led it to complete success.

At the Seventh Congress of the WPK, he set forth the important tasks for further developing space science and technology and thus manufacturing and launching more practical satellites, the aggregate and essence of ultra-modern technology.

In particular, he set it as the immediate goal of space development to put the geostationary satellite into space in the near future and made sure that the development of a new-type geostationary satellite carrier rocket was conducted in a positive way.

He, who guided in September 2016 the ground jet test of a high-power engine for the geo-stationary satellite carrier rocket for the first time in the DPRK, highly praised the scientists and technicians for devotedly carrying out in a short span of time the task given by the Party.

While inspecting the NADA in March 2022, he set forth the development of a reconnaissance satellite as the top political and military prior task and the supreme revolutionary task of the Party and the government, and clarified the issues for laying a solid material and technical foundation of the field of space scientific research.

In the arduous struggle to explore and conquer outer space in our own way, he instilled wisdom, strength and courage into the minds of the space developers, always finding himself among them.

Thanks to his energetic and meticulous leadership, a well-regulated guidance and management system for the country's space development was established, all the work for the exploration and use of outer space could be conducted in a unified and far-sighted way, and great successes were registered in the work to design and make practical satellite and develop the satellite control equipment and in other space development work.

Today the NADA is recording great achievements in the efforts to make a multi-functional and highly efficient satellite and boost its reliability.

Lots of scientific and technological problems arising in the satellite control and operation have been solved, and the work to introduce the application technology into the economic construction, the improvement of the people's standard of living and the building up of the country's defence capacity has been stepped up.

The NADA is strengthening the international trust and cooperation in the space science field, strictly observing the international outer space treaty, agreements and conventions.

The officials and space scientists of the NADA, who have turned out in the work to carry out this year's task of the new five-year plan for the national aerospace development with great confidence and courage, are pressing ahead with the preparations for launching and operating new practical satellites of various purposes by their own efforts and technology.

Efforts are also made to apply the space scientific and technological successes to agriculture, fishery, weather observation, disaster monitoring, resources prospecting and the development of communication system of our own style. -0-