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North Korea announced on Thursday that its second attempt to launch a spy satellite had failed, but it vowed to make a third attempt in October. The country’s space agency, using the new-type carrier rocket Chollima-1, tried to put the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 into orbit. According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the first and second stages of the rocket were normal, but the launch failed due to an error in the emergency blasting system during the third-stage flight.

South Korea’s military detected the rocket flying above international waters and confirmed that North Korea had launched a long-range rocket. This launch came just three days after the U.S. and South Korean militaries began their annual military drills that North Korea considers an invasion rehearsal.

North Korea’s space agency stated that it would study what went wrong with the failed launch in order to prepare for a third attempt. The country’s ruling party leadership sees these failed launches as setbacks in their efforts to enhance their military capabilities.

Previous launches by North Korea have raised tensions and violated U.N. Security Council resolutions, resulting in condemnation from countries like South Korea and the U.S. North Korea claims that its weapons testing is necessary to counter increasing U.S.-led military threats, but many experts believe that it aims to modernize its arsenal to gain leverage in negotiations with the U.S.

North Korea successfully placed its first satellite into orbit in 2012, followed by a second satellite in 2016. While North Korea described these satellites as part of its peaceful space development program, experts believe they were developed for spying purposes. Despite these claims, there is no evidence that the satellites have transmitted imagery back to North Korea.

The U.N. Security Council had previously imposed economic sanctions on North Korea for its satellite launches, viewing them as covers for long-range ballistic missile tests. However, further sanctions have not been adopted due to opposition from veto-wielding members Russia and China.

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