Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues
时间:2024-09-23 06:38:26 来源:American news
A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's rocket launch during a news program at Seoul Station in Seoul, Monday. AP-Yonhap |
Experts believe regime still far from developing functional spy satellite
By Jung Min-ho
Pyongyang said on Tuesday that it will launch its first military reconnaissance satellite in two weeks to keep track of the U.S.' "reckless" military activities.
The announcement means the ambitious plan of North Korea, which was preparing to finish all the necessary preparation by the end of April, has officially been postponed.
Speaking to The Korea Times, experts said technical problems might have been the cause of the delay. Given the small size of the satellite, shown in photos released by the regime, and the level of complexity of the project, they also said North Korea still seems far from developing a functional, useful satellite for military purposes.
"Given that, unlike April, there are no major political events scheduled for June, it is possible that North Korea delayed the launch due to technical issues," Shin Jong-woo, a researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank, said.
Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, agreed.
"As we have seen through our own (Nuri rocket) space project, the complexity of developing a satellite is enormous. For the North, it would have been even more so, with an additional challenge of securing all the essential materials and parts amid sanctions," Park said.
In comments released by the official Korean Central News Agency, Ri Pyong-chol, one of the North's top military officers, said having space-based reconnaissance is expected to enable the military to monitor in real-time the "dangerous military acts" of the U.S. and its allies. He justified Pyongyang's satellite development by blaming Washington's "hostile air espionage activities" conducted over his country.
This photo taken in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, shows two flagpoles set up separately by South and North Korea near the inter-Korean border. Yonhap |
However, views differ among experts on where North Korea's real intention lies. Some think that its satellite development is only a cover for advancing its missile capabilities.
During a press conference, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, "(North Korea's) satellite launches incorporate technology that is almost identical and compatible with those used for ballistic missiles, and regardless of the designation used by North Korea, we believe that the one planned for this time also uses ballistic missile technology."
Echoing that view, Shin said North Korea's satellite looks "too small" for advanced functions.
"The pictures released by North Korea show that it appears to be a little bigger than one meter long and not equipped with SAR (synthetic-aperture radar) that helps provide quality images even under bad weather conditions," he said. "I suspect that it may be part of North Korea's missile development effort and doubt that the satellite would be able to function properly."
North Korea's satellite launch would use the same long-range missile technology prohibited by U.S. Security resolutions, which has drawn criticism from Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.
However, based on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's past comments about new weapons under development, Park believes the regime is serious about its space vision.
"North Korea has test-launched its missiles many times without prior notice to any country. Yet it issued notice (to Japan) this time and in the past ahead of satellite launches. Additionally, there is little North Korea would gain from the satellite launch in terms of developing ICBM capabilities as it only needs to acquire atmospheric reentry technologies, which the satellite test would not help," he said.
North Korea proved in the past that it had the ability to deliver a satellite into space, but the scholar said the capabilities of its satellites remain highly questionable.
"The regime would declare success if it successfully sends it into space. But it would require further analysis to know what that really means," he said.
相关内容
- ·9 Planetariums to Get Lost in the Cosmos
- ·雨城联社继续做好收费项目和价格标准公示工作
- ·雨城联社继续做好收费项目和价格标准公示工作
- ·6家广东茶企齐聚四川农博会,浓郁茶香征服茶叶采购商
- ·South Korea beefs up drills amid escalating NK provocations
- ·广东20人入围第二届全国乡村振兴青年先锋
- ·“粽子节”未至 端午经济先热
- ·始阳派出所查处一起伪造、买卖国家机关证件案
- ·Against All Odds: How Netflix Made It
- ·广式腊味、铁皮石斛、脆肉鲩……在江门一站式品味中山味道
- ·两车擦挂 肇事司机哭求私了 挡车被撞 无辜车主不幸截肢
- ·我市农网改造工程获中央预算内投资1.5亿元
- ·多措并举优治理 绘就幸福新图景
- ·雨城区法院四项措施加强干警执法档案建设工作
- ·吃好鱼,来中山。11月3日,2023中山市“鱼跃中山”水产品牌湾区展销活动在广州顺利举行
- ·海归回雅 英国剑桥大学研究员回川农大任教
最新内容
- ·If aliens harnessed solar power, could we detect them? NASA investigated.
- ·荥经地税召开税企座谈会
- ·“最炫足球风”来袭 球迷看球出奇招
- ·台湾八大电视台来荥经拍摄节目
- ·What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more
- ·央视黄金档热播大剧力荐!新会陈皮惊艳亮相《珠江人家》
- ·诞生6张省半决赛入场券!广东乡村歌手大赛广州云浮两赛区晋级赛、决赛将在罗定举办
- ·中学生课外阅读情况不容乐观 引导孩子养成阅读习惯很关键
- ·Weather update for second Pak vs Ban second Test match day one
- ·雨城联社成立新团委制定新目标 展现新气象
推荐内容
热点内容
- ·Best smart home deal: The Amazon Smart Thermostat is just $63.99
- ·专家观点:蚊香之毒猛于香烟?说法有些夸张
- ·雨城联社 面对面宣传 增进银企感情
- ·汉源联社勇挑服务“三农”重担 助推中小微企业发展壮大
- ·Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 27
- ·逛展会、食靓嘢!佛山预制美味香飘大湾区农业盛会
- ·我用镜头寻找 花海果香中的雅西
- ·“粽子节”未至 端午经济先热
- ·Spaceship tech slashes energy usage of existing AC systems
- ·雨城联社继续做好收费项目和价格标准公示工作