Japan's MoD said a ballistic missile launched by North Korea on 5 March travelled 300 km before falling near the east coast of North Korea, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The partly concealed yellow dot in this MoD image denotes Pyongyang while the red dot denotes the estimated launch site. (Japan MoD)
North Korea has conducted a second test related to its development of a reconnaissance satellite. According to Japan and South Korea, the test involved the launch of another ballistic missile.
Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on 6 March that the “important test” was held one day earlier by the country's National Aerospace Development Administration and the Academy of National Defense Science.
The KCNA said the test confirmed the “reliability of the satellite data transmission/reception and control command system and various terrestrial satellite control systems”. It provided no additional details.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected a missile launch from Sunan area of Pyongyang just before 9 am local time. It said the missile flew 270 km at a top altitude of 560 km.
Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) said it detected the launch of “at least one ballistic missile”. It added that it estimated the missile flew about 300 km at a maximum altitude of 550 km, before falling near the east coast of North Korea, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
The MoD said it is analysing the launch in collaboration with the United States.
North Korea highlighted the development of a new reconnaissance satellite as a priority in early 2021.
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