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North Korea conducted another space rocket launch on Thursday, according to South Korea’s military. This marks the second such attempt by the North this year, following a failed launch in May. The launch triggered an emergency warning in Japan, urging residents in Okinawa to seek shelter indoors. The missile, however, passed through towards the Pacific Ocean, and the emergency warning was subsequently lifted. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno described the launch as a threat to regional security and announced that Tokyo would lodge a protest with North Korea.

The United States confirmed being aware of the launch but did not provide further details. Two days before the launch, North Korea had announced its intention to launch a satellite between August 24-31, claiming the need for a military reconnaissance satellite to monitor U.S. military activities. The previous attempt in May, using the “Chollima-1” satellite rocket, failed due to an unstable engine system and fuel. It remains unclear whether North Korea used the Chollima-1 again or a new system for this launch.

Analysts suggest that North Korea may have resolved the issues encountered during the initial launch attempt and improved the design of the launch vehicle. The May launch was condemned by Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington as a provocation and violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. North Korea views its space and military rocket programs as its sovereign right, with spy satellites playing a crucial role in enhancing its weapons’ effectiveness.

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