DPRK Space Program

The DPRK is one of the first countries in the Asia-Pacific region to launch missile technology mastering, which, on a commercial basis, in finished form or in the form of technical assistance to national developments, was also transferred to Iran , Pakistan , Syria , Saudi Arabia and other countries. ^[one]

Work on the rocket and space program began in the mid-70s and was carried out using Soviet technology. ^[2] Based on the missile systems manufactured by the USSR and the PRC , as well as their own developments, by the beginning of the 90s of the XX century, North Korean scientists came close to creating medium-range ballistic missiles (BRRS) . In the mid-1990s, work began on multi-stage missiles with a detachable warhead. There is evidence that the space program was led by the famous physicist Sun Sang Wuk, and that experts from the USSR after its collapse, China, Pakistan, Iran took part in the rocket and space program.

The first attempt to launch the Kwanmyonson-1 experimental satellite was made by the first Pektusan-1 launch vehicle (LV) in 1998. The launch is declared by the DPRK as successful, but is not confirmed by other countries. The first applied satellite “ Kwanmyonson-3 ” was created by 2012 and successfully launched on December 12, 2012.

In March 2009, North Korea announced its accession to the international space treaty of 1966 (since March 6, 2009) and the Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space of 1974 (since March 10, 2009). ^[3]

For the first time in April 2012, foreign journalists were allowed to the Sohe cosmodrome and the Flight Control Center in Pyongyang before the launch of the Gwanmyonson-3 satellite (also invited foreign space agencies refused to send their representatives) ^{[4] [5] [6] [7 ]}

The DPRK was the first to launch space and other missiles at the Cosmonaut ( Tonhe ) Eastern Test Site (Musudan-ni) cosmodrome (rocket track ) near the village of the same name. The construction of the training ground began in the early 1980s for the needs of the defense departments (for testing missile weapons). Three launch vehicles of two types (“ Pektusan-1 ” and the larger Eunha-2 ") were launched from the cosmodrome. Two launches (in 1998 and 2009) with the aim of putting experimental satellites into orbit (" Gwanmenson-1 "and “ Gwanmyonson-2 ”), according to observers in the world, ended in failure.

In addition, on the western coast of the DPRK, near the settlement of Pondong-ni , the Sokhe Western Test Site (Tonkhan-ni) cosmodrome (rocket launch site) was built , which has both space-based infrastructure and, according to some observations, silo launchers for ICBMs . ^{[8] [9] [10]} . The cosmodrome also allows launching missiles on trajectories that do not pass over Japan. The first launch from the launch site of the launch vehicle ( Eunha-3 ) with a satellite ( Gwanmyonson-3 ) in 2012 failed, and the second was successful in the same year.

• 08/31 . 1998, the first North Korean launch vehicle Pektusan-1 was conducted from the Tonhe cosmodrome in Musgyun-ni province in the Hamgyon-Pukto province , during which an attempt was made to put the Gwanmensons-1 satellite into low Earth orbit. The launch of the satellite into orbit was declared successful by the DPRK, but has not been confirmed in the world - according to observers, the third stage of the rocket with the satellite fell 4000 km east of the DPRK;
• 09/24 . 1999, under pressure from the United States and Russia, the DPRK declared a moratorium on ballistic missile tests and the termination of the space program;
• 08/08 . 2001 in Moscow, the leaders of Russia and the DPRK signed a joint declaration in which it was noted that the DPRK missile program is peaceful in nature and does not threaten countries that respect the sovereignty of North Korea ^[11] ;
• 03.03 . 2005 a statement was published by the DPRK Foreign Ministry, according to which the DPRK no longer considered itself bound by the 1999 moratorium;
• 07/04 . 2006 the first test launch of the more powerful Yunha-2 launch vehicle was launched from the Tonghe Cosmodrome ^[12] ;
• 04/05 . 2009, from the Tonghe Cosmodrome, using the Eunha-2 launch vehicle, the Kwanmyonson-2 experimental artificial communications satellite was launched. ^[13] The orbiting the satellite was again declared successful by the DPRK, but was ultimately not confirmed in the world. According to the surveillance systems of the USA, Japan, South Korea, the third stage of the launch vehicle did not separate, and the rocket with the satellite again fell into the Pacific Ocean. ^[14] At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the successful launch of the satellite ^[15] , but then the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian space monitoring system does not fix the satellite in orbit ^[16] .
• 04/13 . 2012, the Kwanmyonson-3 Earth remote sensing satellite was launched from the new Sohe (Tonkhan-ni) cosmodrome of the new Inha-3 launch satellite, which, according to international observations and the DPRK recognized, failed - the rocket with the satellite collapsed and their wreckage fell 165-200 km west of South Korea.
• 12.12 . 2012, from the Sohe cosmodrome, with the help of the Eunha-3 launch vehicle, it was successfully launched into the orbit of the Kwanmyonson-3 satellite. The US Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has confirmed the success of the launch ^[17] .
• 02/07 . 2016 The DPRK Central Television in a special message spoke about the successful launch of a rocket that delivered the satellite to the target orbit. The DPRK authorities assured that they intend to continue to launch satellites into space. The launch was ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The launch of a rocket with a satellite was carried out from the Sohe cosmodrome on the west coast of the DPRK. The Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite ("Bright Star-4") , designed to track the Earth, makes a revolution around the Earth with a frequency of once every 94 minutes. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Defense of South Korea, the rocket fell at a distance of 790 km from the launch site. The US Department of Defense has confirmed the satellite’s launch into orbit ^[18] , but the satellite does not give signals and rotates randomly ^[19] .

The country has three types of three - stage launch vehicles (LV) , created on the basis of military ballistic missiles , which in turn were the local processing of Soviet missiles.

The first Pektusan-1 launch vehicle (in honor of the declared mountain of the same name sacred in the DPRK) was created on the basis of the short-range infantry fighting vehicle Tepphodon -1 by 1998.

Larger Milky Way launch vehicles of the Milky Way series were launched on the basis of the Tepphodon -2 extended-range ballistic missile system: Eunha-2 by 2006 and Eunha-3 by 2012.

In Pyongyang is the factory of the Center for Rocket and Space Research and Development for the assembly of satellites, launch vehicles, and ballistic missiles.

There are command control centers at both spaceports, as well as the Central Flight Control Command Center (MCC) 50 km from Pyongyang. ^[7]

The Space Technology Committee reported that the DPRK plans to put into orbit several artificial satellites, “designed to study the Earth’s natural resources, weather forecasting and other goals important for the country's economic development” ^[20] .

Moreover, one of the few countries, the DPRK announced that it has other ambitious space projects, including the organization on its own of launches of geostationary communication satellites , manned flights ^[7] and even the development of manned partially reusable systems . ^[21]

The officials of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have repeatedly stated that the country has a space program ^[22] . According to Nodon Sinmun ,

“The DPRK implements a policy of promoting peaceful space programs. According to the state, this is an important development goal and is fully consistent with global trends. There is no power in the world to stop this program. ” “As long as the use of outer space is aimed at peaceful purposes, such efforts will help strengthen our society and we cannot be blamed for this.” ^[23]