N. Korea fires rocket, triggers fury
Despite warnings from neighbours, Pyongyang lauds launch as milestone
PYONGYANG: Hours after the rest of the world already knew, North Korea’s state media triumphantly announced in a special news bulletin to the nation it had successfully launched a satellite into orbit, calling it a major milestone in the nation’s history and the “greatest gift of loyalty” to the country’s young leader, Kim Jong-un.
In a possible hint of what might lie ahead, however, North Korea’s state media implored the nation on the eve of the launch to be prepared for whatever “violent storm” may be coming.
They may need to: the US, South Korea and Japan have strongly condemned the launch, and potential new sanctions over both the launch and the North’s purported hydrogen bomb test just one month ago are now being discussed in the UN Security Council.
North Korea’s most famous and venerated TV newscaster, dressed in a traditional pink gown, proudly announced on the TV bulletin – reserved for extremely important events – that the Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 had been successfully put into orbit early yesterday morning. She called it an “epochal” moment.
The news yesterday was the first acknowledgment of the rocket preparations made to the North Korean public, even though the launch plan had been released in advance to international organisations to avoid accidents with commercial shipping or aircraft and had been closely watched by experts around the world.
As the news aired, crowds in Pyongyang cheered and applauded as they watched the news of the launch, which was displayed on large screens at different places around the capital.
“As far as I know, there are few countries in the world that launched their own satellites,” said one, Pyongyang resident Ri Hyon-gil.
He added that he was proud of both the launch and the news of the H-bomb test because they demonstrate the North’s scientific and technological progress.
North Korea claims to have successfully put four satellites into orbit. Foreign observers have confirmed only two – this one and a similar probe launched in 2012.
They also question whether the 2012 probe ever transmitted any signals back to Earth, though the North claims it broadcast patriotic odes to the nation’s leaders.
It may take several days to confirm whether yesterday’s satellite is alive and transmitting signals to the ground.
North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA, called the launch a “complete success” and said it marked a major advance in “developing the country’s science, technology, economy and defence capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes”.
North Korea has resolutely denied claims that its space launches are intended to test ballistic missile technology and thus banned under international resolutions. Instead, it has said its space launches are strictly for peaceful purposes.