North Korean satellite explodes in-flight minutes after liftoff

North Korea's latest satellite launch ended in dramatic failure with footage purporting to show the rocket exploding in flight just minutes after launch. Video shared by South Korea today claimed to show the moment the satellite, attached to a pointed white rocket, exploded shortly after takeoff on Monday.

North Korea admitted the launch had exploded in a fireball before dropping into the Yellow Sea just minutes after lifting off. The launch, pegged by analysts as a significant step in the nuclear-armed country's race for space nonetheless, was the latest attempt since North Korea placed its first spy satellite in orbit in November. North Korean progress in the sector comes after Russian experts visited North Korea to help with both satellite and space rocket programmes, offering guidance, according to the South's Yonhap news agency.

Video shared by South Korea, ostensibly filmed by an observation device on a South Korean patrol vessel, showed a grainy dot suddenly erupting into a large white cloud. The South Korean military said the one-minute black-and-white video showed the moment of explosion, tracking an explosion in the sky followed by flashes. Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed video of what appeared to be an orange dot flying into the night sky and then bursting into flames in an area close to the border between China and North Korea.

North Korea said its latest attempt to launch a new military reconnaissance satellite failed on Monday during the flight of the rocket's first stage. South Korea and U.S. authorities believe the projectile exploded after flying for a few minutes, according to South Korea's presidential office. The country claimed to have tried a new 'liquid oxygen and petroleum engine' in its latest space race gambit - which was initially blamed for the failed launch.

State media KCNA later reported that other possible causes were also being investigated. A petroleum fuel and liquid oxygen engine may suggest that Russia, which vowed last year to help North Korea's satellite programme, may have provided assistance, said Lee Choon-geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute. 'Even if it failed, it is a huge leap,' he said, noting that some of South Korea's space rockets were initially developed with Russia decades ago and use similar technology. 'Russia is the strongest country for liquid oxygen-kerosene fuel, and our Naro and Nuri rockets have adopted it through technical cooperation with Russia.'

Some analysts questioned why North Korea would switch engine types, but Lee said it could allow Pyongyang to separate its civilian space program from the ballistic missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council. The United States condemned the launch, 'which incorporated technologies that are directly related to the DPRK's [North Korea] ballistic missile program and took place in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,' a State Department spokesperson said.

The object fired by North Korea disappeared over the Yellow Sea, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters. He also accused North Korea of violating U.N. Security Council resolutions with the launch. Locals were told to shelter after the missile was launched on Monday night. North Korea fired the projectile on a southern path off its west coast at around 10:44 p.m. (1344 GMT) on Monday, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The JCS said it detected a large amount of debris from the rocket in the sea just two minutes after launch. Although North Korean state media did not name the rocket or release photos, analysts said it was most likely different from the Chollima-1 rocket used in the successful satellite launch in November 2023. The Chollima-1, which also suffered several explosive test failures, uses hypergolic fuels, substances that can be stored at room temperature but ignite on contact each other, requiring careful handling.

The successful November launch was the first after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare trip abroad in September and toured Russia's most modern space launch centre, where President Vladimir Putin promised to help Pyongyang build satellites. Neither country has elaborated on the extent of that future aid, which could violate UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea.

Russian experts have visited North Korea to help with the satellite and space rocket programme, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unnamed South Korean senior defence official. Pyongyang has said it needs a military reconnaissance satellite to boost monitoring of U.S. and South Korean military activities.

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