The South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that it has successfully conducted a test launch of a solid-fuel rocket carrying an artificial satellite. It intends to enhance its own launch technology and strengthen its surveillance capabilities against North Korea.
On the afternoon of the 4th, off the coast of Jeju Island in southern South Korea, the third solid-fuel rocket launch test was conducted since December last year.
According to the South Korean Ministry of Defense, a small Earth observation satellite developed by a private defense industry company was actually mounted and the launch was successful.
In South Korea, the use of solid fuel for rockets has been restricted by guidelines signed with its ally the United States, but the guidelines have been abolished.
South Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite from the United States on a rocket from the United States on the 12nd Japan time, and plans to strengthen its surveillance capabilities against North Korea by improving its own launch technology.
On the other hand, South Korea's National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong appeared on a program of South Korea's public broadcaster KBS on the 3rd, and revealed the view that the ballistic missile that North Korea failed to launch on the 2nd of last month was a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile.
Last month, North Korea announced that it conducted the first test of a solid-fuel engine used in a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, and related countries continue to be vigilant.