Interestingly, North Korea acknowledged that its long-range rocket failed to put a satellite into orbit today.
Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA) reported at noon, “The first earth observation satellite ‘Gwangmyungsung-3’ in Chosun was launched today at 7:38am from the Yellow Sea Launch Center in Cheolsan County, North Pyongan Province” but that “The earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset orbit.”
“Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure,” it went on.
For highly secretive North Korea to admit to a failure of this kind is unprecedented. However, experts say North Korea has no choice but to admit to it, especially when the ‘Gwangmyungsung-3’ had been shown to foreign media beforehand and the rocket then exploded just a minute after launch.
Previously, on April 5th, 2009, North Korea announced the success of its ‘Taepodong-2’ four hours after launch, claiming that the Gwangmyungsung satellite it carried was playing the ‘Song of General Kim Il Sung’ and ‘Song of General Kim Jong Il’.
