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North Korea launches spacecraft, sirens wail over South Korea. Photos/Illustrations
SEOUL – Military South Korea (South Korea) said North Korea (North Korea) has launched what it claims is a space launch vehicle on Wednesday (31/5/2023). The launch comes after Pyongyang previously announced plans to deploy spy satellite its first military into orbit.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately elaborate on the launch. Following the launch, officials in the South Korean capital, Seoul, sent out warnings via public loudspeakers and smartphones to residents to prepare for evacuation, but there were no immediate reports of damage or disturbances, the Associated Press reported.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government also briefly issued an emergency alert on its J-Alert broadcasting system to residents of the southern prefecture of Okinawa, saying a missile had been launched from North Korea.
It was later confirmed the missile did not fly over Japanese territory.
North Korea said it would launch its first military spy satellite between May 31 and June 11 to enhance monitoring of the activities of the United States (US), which withdrew threats from Japan to destroy Pyongyang’s missiles that violated its territory.
“We will take destructive action against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land on our territory,” the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Analysts say military satellites will enhance North Korea’s surveillance capabilities and improve its ability to strike targets in the event of war.
North Korea’s satellite launch was in violation of UN security council resolutions that bar the country from using ballistic technology as a cover for missile tests.
(ian)
