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Template:Infobox Spacecraft Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 (Hangul: 광명성 2호, Hanja: 光明星 2號, meaning Bright Star-2 or Lodestar-2) is a North Korean satellite. According to the North Korean government, the Unha-2 rocket carrying the satellite was launched on Sunday 5 April 2009 at 11:20 local time (02:30 UTC) from the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground (Musudan-ri) in northeastern North Korea.

North Korea claims that the rocket successfully put its payload into Earth orbit minutes after launch. However, hours after the launch, officials in South Korea and the United States reported that the rocket and its payload had fallen into the Pacific Ocean. By contrast, the Russian Ministry of External Affairs has stated that the satellite was successfully launched and entered orbit around the Earth.

Prior to the launch, concern was raised by other nations, particularly the United States, South Korea and Japan, that the rocket launch might be a trial run of technology that could be used in the future to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile. The launch of the rocket was sharply condemned by the United States and the European Union while the People's Republic of China and Russia urged restraint.

Pre-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. 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. 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 UTC. It reported that the rocket's first stage was planned to fall about 650 kilometres (400 mi) east of Tonghae, the second stage would fall about 3,600 kilometres (2,200 mi) downrange, and the third stage would enter low Earth orbit with the satellite. North Korea designated the waters off Japan's Akita and Iwate prefectures as a risk zone for falling debris. Most of a designated zone in the Sea of Japan lies within Japan's exclusive economic zone and outside its territorial waters.

International response to the announcement

Prior to the official announcement, it was 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, while Japan stated that it would launch an interceptor if the North Korean launch appeared to threaten its territory. North Korea responded that it would consider any attempt to intercept the launch to be an act of war. 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 (more familiarly known as "Patriot") ground-based interceptor missiles to bases in Akita and Iwate. 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. The first stage of the rocket would fall in the sea 75 kilometres (47 mi) 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. According to the United States Northern Command, the remaining stage(s) along with the payload itself landed in the Pacific Ocean.

According to North Korean state media, which claims the launch was successful, the orbital parameters consist of a 490 km perigee and 1,426 km apogee, with an orbital period of 104 minutes and 12 seconds.

Instruments

Pyongyang said that Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 is an experimental communications satellite as part of a peaceful space project. It also said that the satellite was transmitting data and the "Song of General Kim Il-sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong-Il" on a frequency of 470 MHz, although similar claims were made for a 1998 satellite launch attempt which failed. Reuters reported that as of 1749 UTC, no signals had been recorded on 470 MHz.

International response to the launch

Members of the six-party talks

  •  United States – President Barack Obama stated "North Korea's development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security. With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations."
  •  People's Republic of China – Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu stated "We hope related parties stay calm and exercise restraint, appropriately deal with it and together maintain peace and stability in this region. The Chinese side is willing to continue to play a constructive role."
  •  South Korea – Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan stated that "The North's launch is a provocative act that clearly violates U.N. Security Council 1718 that regardless of the North's claims threatens peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia."
  •  Japan – Prime Minister Taro Aso stated that "the fact that North Korea went ahead with the launch despite repeated warnings from around the world, especially the United States, South Korea and Japan, was an extremely provocative act and one that Japan cannot let go unchallenged. So, cooperating with the international community, we want to respond (considering that) it was clearly a violation of the U.N. resolutions."
  •  Russia – A Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "We are checking whether this (launch) is not a violation of certain resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and call on all sides to refrain from actions that could lead to escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula."

International organizations

  •  European Union – The EU called on North Korea to suspend its nuclear activities related to the ballistic missile program and all other nuclear weapons in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."
  • NATO – Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer condemned the launch, calling it "highly provocative, and in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718 barring North Korea from developing ballistic missile capability or launching ballistic missiles". He commented that the launch would deepen concern about North Korea in the region and beyond, complicate the 6-party talks and called on North Korea to cease such provocative actions.
  •  United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that "Given the volatility in the region ... such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability. The Secretary-General urges (North Korea) to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions."

Other countries

  •  Canada - Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon stated that "Canada is very concerned by North Korea's decision to launch a long-range rocket. This ill-advised action undermines confidence in North Korea's commitment to peace and security. Canada calls upon North Korea to comply fully with the requirements of UNSCR 1718 and suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program."
  •  France – President Nicholas Sarkozy said that North Korea had placed itself "outside international law," calling for further enforcement of sanctions by the international community to "punish the regime."
  •  Italy – The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "These missile launches may complicate furthermore to find a solution to North Korean nuclear affairs and obstruct the achievement of stability in the area".
  •  New Zealand - Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the test was "reckless" and did not help peace and stability in the region. McCully also stated that it was a "backwards step" for North Korea, and urged the country to focus on meeting the agreements made during the Six Party Talks as it was in its interests to do so.
  •  Singapore - A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry stated it was "deeply concerned" at the launch, and urged all parties to exercise restraint and reduce tensions through dialogue.
  •  Sweden - North Koreas ambassador in Stockholm was called to a meeting regarding Sweden's worry over the launch, and a possible nuclear warfare upgrade in Eastern Asia. The Swedish foreign minister Jan Eliasson said "We feel very saddened that North Korea went along with the launch even though the rest of the world told them not to do so" at a press conference.
  •  Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said in an interview in Tokyo that due to the "lack of information, and contradictory information ... I prefer to have a great deal of prudence as the Russian government has said".

See also

References

  1. Jong-Heon, Lee (February 26, 2009). "N. Korean missiles unnerve". The Washington Times. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  2. "Defying World, North Koreans Launch Rocket". The New York Times. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  3. http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKSEO88417
  4. ^ North Korea launches rocket, sparks international criticism, CNN, April 5, 2009 (archive at: http://www.webcitation.org/5foWbC01a )
  5. North Korea space launch 'fails', BBC News, 5 April, 2009
  6. ^ "NORAD and USNORTHCOM monitor North Korean launch". United States Northern Command. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  7. МИД России подтвердил запуск КНДР спутника (in Russian), Gazeta.ru, 5 April, 2009
  8. МИД РФ подтвердил запуск КНДР искусственного спутника(in Russian), RIA Novosti, 5 April, 2009
  9. ^ "Japan OKs deployment of missile defense system". AP. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  10. Obama Condemns North Korea Launch, Calls for Nuclear Free World, Voice of America, April 5, 2009
  11. EU condemns launch, China urges calm, Brisbane Times, April 5, 2009
  12. China urges calm after North Korea rocket launch, Reuters, April 5, 2009
  13. Russia urges calm after North Korea rocket launch, Reuters, April 5, 2009
  14. "朝鲜将发射"光明星二号"试验通讯卫星" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  15. "KCNA Report on DPRK's Accession to International Space Treaty and Convention". KCNA. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  16. "ICAO officially advised of DPRK plans for rocket launch" (PDF). ICAO. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  17. "China urges N Korea to resume talks". Al Jazeera English. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  18. "'Danger zone' for debris lies in EEZ". Yomiuri Shimbun. 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  19. McCurry, Justin (2009-03-13). "Japan warns it may shoot down North Korean satellite launcher". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  20. McCurry, Justin (2009-03-28). "Japan takes aim". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  21. "North Korea fires long-range rocket: reports". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  22. Controversial satellite launch by North Korea triggers alarm, The Hindu, April 6, 2009
  23. "High five: Messages from North Korea". Asia Times Online. 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  24. "North Korea Rocket Would Break UN Resolution, Yu Says". Bloomberg. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  25. "Defiant N Korea launches rocket". BBC News. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  26. "Спутник КНДР передает на Землю песни о Ким Ир Сене и Ким Чен Ире" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  27. ^ "World reaction to North Korea rocket launch". Reuters. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  28. US, EU condemn N Korea’s missile launch, Sify, April 5, 2009
  29. NATO: Statement on North Korea by the NATO Secretary General. Published April 5, 2009
  30. Rudd calls missile launch 'reckless', The Age, April 5, 2009
  31. "North Korea rocket launch sparks outrage". CTV.ca. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  32. "Le prime reazioni nel mondo" (in Italian). ANSA. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  33. NZ condemns North Korea missile launch, TVNZ, April 6, 2009
  34. The missile controversy, ModernGhana, April 5, 2009
  35. Singapore Foreign Ministry concerned over North Korean rocket launch, Channel News Asia, April 6, 2009
  36. "FN fördömer Nordkoreas robotprov" (in Sweden). SVT. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  37. Swiss condemn North Korean rocket launch, swissinfo, April 5, 2009
  38. "Gov't 'strongly' condemns N.Korea rocket launch". AFP. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  39. "Chavez Sides With Russia On North Korea Rocket Launch". Fox News. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
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