North Korea’s Military Satellite Launch Ends in Fiery explosion

North Korea’s latest attempt to launch a satellite failed as the rocket exploded in a fireball and dropped into the Yellow Sea just minutes after lift-off.

North Korea said its latest attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite failed in flight on Monday during the rocket’s first stage. North Korea claimed that the rocket featured a new “liquid oxygen and petroleum engine”.

Although North Korea’s state media did not name the rocket or release photos, analysts said it was most likely different from the Chollima-1 rocket used in the successful satellite launch in November 2023. The Chollima-1, which also suffered several explosive test failures, uses hypergolic fuels, substances that can be stored at room temperature but ignite on contact with each other.

A petroleum fuel and liquid oxygen engine also suggests that Russia may have provided assistance to North Korea’s satellite programme.

Russian experts have visited North Korea to help with the satellite and space rocket program, Yonhap news agency reported.