According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) experienced a failure in the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on Monday. The launch was conducted by the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) of the DPRK at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan County of North Phyongan Province.
The satellite, named Malligyong-1-1, was aboard a new-type satellite carrier rocket. The launch was unsuccessful due to an air blast that occurred during the first-stage flight of the carrier rocket. An official from the NATA provided this information to the KCNA.
A preliminary conclusion was made by the experts from the field headquarters of the non-permanent preparatory committee for launching satellites, attributing the cause of the accident to the reliability of operation of the newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine, the report said. The country will examine other potential causes for the launch failure, the report added.