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North Korea has launched another rocket into space, according to South Korea’s military. This is the second such attempt by North Korea this year, after a failed launch in May. The launch triggered an emergency warning in Japan, urging residents in the southern prefecture of Okinawa to seek shelter indoors. The Japanese government later confirmed that the rocket had passed through and lifted the emergency warning. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, called the launch a threat to regional security and stated that Japan would protest against North Korea.

The United States military is aware of the launch but has not provided any additional details. North Korea had announced two days earlier that they would launch a satellite sometime between Thursday and the following week. According to Pyongyang officials, the satellite is needed for military reconnaissance to monitor US activities. The previous attempt in May, called Chollima-1, resulted in failure as the rocket’s booster and payload fell into the sea due to an unstable engine system and fuel.

It is uncertain whether North Korea used the Chollima-1 rocket again or a new system for this launch. However, experts speculate that North Korea may have resolved the issues encountered during the first launch. Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suggests that recent static engine testing indicates efforts to address problems related to the initial design.

The May launch was widely condemned by officials in Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington DC, who considered it a provocation and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korea views its space and military rocket programs as a sovereign right. Analysts believe that spy satellites are essential for improving the country’s military effectiveness.

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