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North Korea announced on Thursday that it had failed to successfully launch a spy satellite, but stated its intention to make another attempt. This demonstrates the country’s determination to acquire a valuable military asset desired by leader Kim Jong Un.

Neighboring Japan issued a “J-alert” in response to the failed launch, ordering some residents to evacuate to safety as the North Korean rocket flew over the southernmost islands of Okinawa and into the Pacific Ocean.

According to the North’s space agency, the launch used the new-type carrier rocket Chollima-1 to put the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 into orbit. While the rocket’s first and second stages performed normally, the launch ultimately failed due to an error in the emergency blasting system during the third stage flight, as reported by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The National Aerospace Development Administration announced plans for a third launch in October after conducting a thorough analysis of the failed launch. The agency stated that the cause of the accident did not significantly impact the reliability of the cascade engines and the overall system.

Experts believe that despite this setback, Kim Jong Un remains determined and resilient in pursuing his long-term ambitions. In the past, North Korea has shown perseverance after failed weapons demonstrations, bouncing back every time.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the rocket’s flight path above international waters off the Korean Peninsula’s west coast. The launch violated United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit such activities. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno condemned the launch, stating that it poses a threat to peace and stability.

In response to the launch, South Korea plans to enhance trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan to disrupt North Korea’s hacking and smuggling activities. These methods are known to fund the country’s weapons programs in violation of UN sanctions. Senior officials from the three countries held a phone discussion to denounce the launch.

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