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North Korea on Tuesday insisted it is preparing to launch a satellite, technology it is unlikely to have, instead of a missile as widely assumed. The [North] Korean Committee of Space Technology in a statement said "At the moment, preparations are underway at the Donghae launch site in Hwadae-gun, North Hamgyong Province to launch the Kwangmyongsong-2, an experimental communications satellite, by means of a delivery rocket called Unha-2."
The agency claimed it also expects to launch a practical satellite for communications, resource surveys and weather forecasts, which are essential for the country's economic development, and normalize its operations in the first stage in a few years. Though it mentioned no date, the statement suggests that the North will test-fire a long-range Taepodong-2 missile as planned. Back in August 1998, the North test-fired a missile which it claimed was the satellite Kwangmyongsong-1.
A South Korean government official noted that the North is preparing to launch what will nominally be the third term of the Kim Jong-il regime with elections to the Supreme People's Assembly on March 8, and is seeking talks with the U.S. to guarantee the regime's survival. "In these circumstances, it will highly likely launch a missile in March or April as part of efforts to unify society and as a bargaining chip to achieve talks with the U.S.," he added.
North Korea launched a Taepodong-1 missile just before the first Kim administration was being inaugurated.
An intelligence officer said the missile launch will be technically possible within a week or two. The North is apparently installing a radar and measuring instrument to trace the trajectory and expected impact area, he added.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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