Global Courant 2023-05-31 02:48:28
SEOUL/TOKYO — North Korea attempted to launch a so-called space satellite over the sea to the south on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, as the nuclear-armed north tries to gain ground in a regional space race.
The launch prompted emergency warnings and brief evacuation warnings in parts of South Korea and Japan, which were subsequently withdrawn with no danger or damage reported.
The South Korean military said it was analyzing whether the launch was successful, as North Korea’s “space launch vehicle” may have disintegrated in mid-air or crashed after disappearing from radars.
Warnings issued
In data provided to international authorities, North Korea said the launch would take the missile south, with several stages and other debris expected to fall over the Yellow Sea and into the Pacific Ocean.
At around 6:32 a.m. local time (5:32 a.m. Singapore time), sirens sounded all over Seoul as the city issued an alert asking citizens to prepare for a possible evacuation.
Shortly thereafter, the South Korean interior ministry said, referring to an emergency alert issued from phones across Seoul after the launch, “We inform you that the Seoul Metropolitan Government alarm at 6:41 a.m. was issued incorrectly.”
