Korean Committee for Space Technology Announces Satellite Launch Between 10-22 December

Sohae Satellite Launch Center in April 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

The Korean Committee for Space Technology announced on 1 December (Saturday) that DPRK will launch another satellite, identified as “the second version of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-3 [KMS-3].”    The KMS-3, using the carrier rocket U’nha-3, will be launched from the Sohae Satellite Launching Center (Sohae Space Center) in Ch’o’lsan County, North P’yo’ngan Province between 10 to 22 December and KCST said that “a safe flight path has been chosen so that parts of the carrier rocket that might fall during the launch process would not affect neighboring countries.”

According KCNA the KCST said that “scientists and technicians of the DPRK analyzed the mistakes that were made during the previous April launch and deepened the work of improving the reliability and precision of the satellite and carrier rocket, thereby rounding off the preparations for launch” and that “at the time of the April launch, the DPRK ensured utmost transparency of the peaceful scientific and technological satellite launch and promoted international trust in the fields of space science researches and satellite launch. The DPRK will fully comply with relevant international regulations and usage as regards the upcoming launch, too.”