North Korea misses satellite launch period after failed attempt

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) — North Korea's self-designated time window to launch a satellite into orbit expired at midnight Saturday with the nation vowing to try again soon after its failed attempt.

Pyongyang had announced on May 31 its intentions to fire the rocket during a 10-day period, notifying Japan and the International Maritime Organization of its plans, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

An initial attempt was made on the first day of the window, but failed, with the rocket crashing into the Yellow Sea between the Korean Peninsula and China.

The US and its Asian security allies, Japan and South Korea, had remained on alert throughout the pre-declared launch window, with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordering the country's Self-Defense Forces to destroy any projectile that breached its territory, according to Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Sunday that "it is not letting its guard down" despite the window's expiration, as Pyongyang can go ahead with a launch "at any time."

Though the notice period is over, North Korea can launch a long-range ballistic missile at any time without prior notice, an unnamed senior presidential official was cited as saying by Yonhap.

North Korea, for its part, says it has the right to launch a space vehicle to put a satellite into orbit. But the US and some countries, accuse Pyongyang of pursuing its intercontinental ballistic missile program in the guise of the test.

Under UN resolutions, North Korea is banned from any activity using ballistic missile technology.

"South Korea and the US are continuing surveillance activity," the official said adding that sharing of missile warning information between US, South Korea, and Japan will continue "as planned."