The Chollima-1 Rocket

• The launch was aimed at enhancing North Korea's military prowess amidst escalating tensions with the USA and South Korea.
• North Korea has announced its intention to retry the satellite launch as it strives to fortify its weaponry and exert pressure on the US and South Korea.
• Parts of the fallen rocket were recovered by the South Korean military from the waters 200 km southwest of Eocheongdo island.
• By attempting this satellite launch, North Korea is in violation of the UN security council resolutions that prohibit the country from undertaking launches using ballistic technology.
• The launch failure was attributed to the rocket losing thrust following the separation of its first and second stages.

The Launch and its Aftermath

• The launch led to heightened alarm, resulting in South Korea and Japan issuing evacuation orders to prepare their citizens.
• The US has expressed strong condemnation of the Cholima-1 rocket launch, citing it as a breach of a UN security council resolution.
• Experts believe that the satellite could potentially have the ability to monitor troop movements and large targets, such as naval vessels and military aircraft.
• If North Korea manages to launch between three and five spy satellites, it could establish a space-based surveillance system that would enable near real-time monitoring of the Korean Peninsula.
• In addition to satellites, North Korea has plans to develop other high-tech weapons like multi-warhead missiles, a nuclear submarine, a solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile, and a hypersonic missile.
• North Korea's endeavors to develop nuclear weapons are seen as a strategy to extract concessions from the US. It's worth noting that denuclearization talks with the US have been at a standstill since 2019.
• North Korea's previous satellite launches led to the UN imposing economic sanctions against the country.
• North Korea succeeded in launching its first satellite in 2012 and a second one in 2016. Although these were claimed to be earth observation satellites, experts have disputed this claim.