Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2

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Template:Infobox Spacecraft

Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 (Hangul: 광명성 2호, Hanja: 光明星 2號, meaning Bright Star-2) is, according to its estimated trajectory, a North Korean satellite, although conjecture was put forward by other nations including the United States and South Korea[1] that it might be, in fact, a trial run for the technology that might be used in future to launch a intercontinental ballistic missile. According to the South Korean government, North Korea launched the rocket around 11:30 a.m. (0230GMT) Sunday 5 April 2009 from the coastal Musudan-ri launch pad in northeastern North Korea.[2] If it reaches orbit, North Korea will become the tenth country to successfully launch a satellite. However, following the first Kwangmyŏngsŏng launch, in 1998, North Korea claimed the successful launch made it the ninth. The success of either test remains unconfirmed by any other nation. If successful, either launch, would also make North Korea the first of the two nations on the Korean Peninsula to complete an orbital launch, beating South Korea, which had also planned to launch its first rocket in summer, 2009. South Korea, Japan and the United States suspect the launch will be used for tests of the delivery technology for a long-range missile Taepodong-2.[3]

Launch announcement

The launch was first publicly announced on 24 February 2009, when the Korean Central News Agency reported that they had been informed by the Korean Committee of Space Technology that preparations for a satellite launch were underway, and that the satellite would be launched from Musudan-ri in Hwadae.[4] At about the same time, Kim Jong-il visited the province where the launch site is located, as he had immediately prior to the previous launch on 4 July 2006.

On 12 March North Korea announced that it had signed the Outer Space Treaty and the Registration Convention.[5] It also informed the ICAO and IMO that it would conduct a satellite launch between 4 and 8 April, during a launch window running from 02:00 to 07:00 GMT. It reported that the rocket's first stage was planned to fall about 650 kilometres east of Tonghae, the second stage would fall about 3,600 kilometres downrange, and the third stage would enter low Earth orbit with the satellite.[6] North Korea designated the waters off Japan's Akita and Iwate prefectures as a risk zone for falling debris.[7] Most of a designated zone in the Sea of Japan lies within Japan's exclusive economic zone and outside its territorial waters.[8]

International response for the announcement

Prior to the official announcement, it had been reported that North Korea was preparing to test a missile in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718. Following the announcement that it was a satellite launch attempt, the US government stated that it would consider intercepting the rocket if it did not appear to be an orbital launch, whilst Japan stated that it would launch an interceptor if the North Korean launch appeared to threaten its territory.[9] North Korea responded that it would consider any attempt to intercept the launch to be an act of war.[3] South Korea, Japan and the U.S. deployed their Aegis destroyers and cruisers in the Sea of Japan, which are equipped with BMD SM-3 missiles. Japan also moved its PAC-3 ground-based interceptor missiles to bases in Akita and Iwate.[10] Russia urged North Korea not to launch the rocket, since the situation in North-Eastern Asia already is tense.

Launch details

The launch proceeded in relatively clear weather conditions. The rocket flew over the Japanese islands and entered airspace above the Pacific Ocean.[11] The first stage of the rocket would fall in the sea 75 kilometres (about 50 miles) west of Japan, and the second stage would plunge into the Pacific. American, Japanese and South Korean warships were deployed to monitor the rocket during the launch process. Japanese authorities state no reports of damage or injury in Japan as a result of the launch, and that the rocket's boosters landed in the water as had been expected.

Russian government sources have confirmed that the satellite is currently in orbit.[12][13] According to the KCNA, "Song of General Kim Jong-Il" and "Song of General Kim Il-Sung" are being transmitted at 470 MHz.[14]

Instruments

Pyongyang said that Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 is an experimental communications satellite[15] as part of a peaceful space project.[16] It also said that the satellite was transmitting data and the "Song of General Kim Il-sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong-il".[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Obama condemns North Korea rocket launch". CNN. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  2. ^ "North Korea fires long-range rocket: reports". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  3. ^ a b "Japan OKs deployment of missile defense system". AP. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  4. ^ "朝鲜将发射"光明星二号"试验通讯卫星". Xinhua. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  5. ^ "KCNA Report on DPRK's Accession to International Space Treaty and Convention". KCNA. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  6. ^ "ICAO officially advised of DPRK plans for rocket launch" (PDF). ICAO. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  7. ^ "China urges N Korea to resume talks". Aljazeera.net. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  8. ^ "'Danger zone' for debris lies in EEZ". Yomiuri Shimbun. 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  9. ^ McCurry, Justin (2009-03-13). "Japan warns it may shoot down North Korean satellite launcher". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  10. ^ McCurry, Justin (2009-03-28). "Japan takes aim". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  11. ^ North Korea fires long-range rocket: reports - The Sydney Morning Herald
  12. ^ МИД России подтвердил запуск КНДР спутника, Gazeta.ru, 5 april, 2009
  13. ^ МИД РФ подтвердил запуск КНДР искусственного спутника, RIA Novosti, 5 april, 2009
  14. ^ Спутник КНДР передает на Землю песни о Ким Ир Сене и Ким Чен Ире, RIA Novosti, 5 april 2009
  15. ^ "High five: Messages from North Korea". Asia Times Online. 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  16. ^ "North Korea Rocket Would Break UN Resolution, Yu Says". Bloomberg. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  17. ^ "Defiant N Korea launches rocket". BBC. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
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