South Korea successfully launches satellite

South Korea has successfully launched a satellite from its soil for the first time, one month after North Korea won a propaganda coup by achieving the same feat.


The launch of the satellite, which Seoul says will be used to study climate change, followed failed attempts in 2009 and 2010, as well as a failed attempt last Novemberthat had been marred by technical problems. Those setbacks gave North Korea space to become the first on the Korean peninsula to launch a satellite, which it did on Decem While North Korea has launched its own satellite, it will view the international acceptance of Wednesday’s launch as evidence of what it considers “double standards” applied to it. “We, like everyone else, have the right to launch satellites,” a foreign ministry spokesman said last year.“I celebrate with all the people of Korea the opening of the new space age,” said Lee Myung-bak, who will step down as president next month. “Let us all use this opportunity to upgrade Korea’s national strength to a higher level.”


After Pyongyang tested a nuclear device in 2006, it was banned from using ballistic missile technology. Its satellite launch last month raised concerns as the technology needed for that is similar to the technology needed to develop inter-contental missiles. South Korea has no new nuclear weapons programme, meaning its development of satellite technology has raised fewer security concerns.


Pyongyang’s rocket launch last month led to a UN Security Council resolution last week, condemning the act and tightening sanctions against the regime. North Korea responded by announcing that it planned to carry out its third nuclear test, and saying that Seoul’s implementation of the new sanctions would be “an act of war”.


South Korea has spent about $500m on its rocket programme and will hope the successful launch will boost national prestige, while potentially facilitating billions of dollars in sales to the global space services market, part of the nation’s drive to boost high-value exports.


The rocket was fired at 4pm from a launch pad near the city of Goheungon, 480km south of Seoul. Separation of the rocket’s first and second stages were completed minutes after the launch and the satellite successfully entered orbit, said Lee Ju-ho, science and technology minister.


South Korea’s space agency will try to make contact with the satellite early on Thursday morning to confirm that it is functioning correctly.


“Today’s successful launch will help us take a step closer toward becoming a space power,” the minister said, adding that the country would aim to develop a space launch vehicle with its own technology by 2020. The 140-tonne Naro rocket launched on Wednesday was partly designed by Russia.