21 Nov 2023 | 06:10 PM UTC
North Korea: Pyongyang launches suspected military satellite test late Nov. 21
North Korea conducts suspected military satellite test late Nov. 21. No reports of damage or injuries. Additional similar tests likely.
North Korea conducted a suspected military satellite test late on Nov. 21. South Korean officials confirmed that the test originated from Tongchang County at approximately 22:43, with the projectile reportedly landing in the Pacific Ocean near Seoul's Baengnyeong Island. Japanese authorities briefly issued emergency orders for residents in Okinawa to take shelter inside buildings or underground but later rescinded the directive. The launch on Nov. 21 occurred shortly after North Korea provided its neighboring states with a limited timeframe, purportedly from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1, to conduct a satellite-carrying space rocket launch; additional similar tests and precautionary emergency orders cannot be ruled out.
If confirmed as a spy satellite, the Nov. 21 launch would mark North Korea's third attempt to establish satellite capabilities this year. The latest test comes nearly 100 days after the North's second attempt on Aug. 24, which failed due to an engine problem, and 120 days after the initial effort on May 31, which encountered a failure in the second-stage rocket. The persistence in conducting multiple shots within a relatively short timeframe raises concerns about North Korea's determination to advance its satellite capabilities despite encountering technical challenges in its previous endeavors.
Despite attempts at jumpstarting diplomacy, the geopolitical dynamics on the Korean Peninsula remain largely unaltered, as North Korea has previously stated that it will only give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for concrete moves to reduce perceived US threats against it. North Korean leaders have previously warned of more decisive actions in response to US sanctions. However, both sides will likely avoid any actions that could escalate into a full-scale conflict.
