Expert Opinions Lean Toward 'Performance Doubts'
High-Definition Component Import Ban Also Limits Size
What kind of capabilities does the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1, reportedly launched by North Korea on the 31st, possess? Experts express skepticism about whether it is capable of performing actual military missions.
North Korea has never disclosed specific performance details or specifications of this satellite. However, it was revealed to the public when Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, conducted an on-site inspection on the 17th. It was a small satellite about 1 meter in size and weighing 500 kg. The shape is hexagonal, with four solar panels installed on the top.
Regarding this, Lee Chun-geun, Honorary Research Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, pointed out, "Considering the size and technological situation of the disclosed satellite, it is unlikely to be high-performance." Military reconnaissance satellites require a minimum resolution of less than 1 meter, meaning that a 1m by 1m area on the ground corresponds to one pixel in the image. This resolution is necessary to distinguish objects on the ground. They must import space-grade high-definition digital camera pixel sensors (CCD) produced only by the United States, France, and Germany. These are special components manufactured to withstand radiation and electromagnetic waves in zero-gravity and vacuum conditions. Naturally, because they are used for military technology, their export and import are strictly controlled.
Neither North Korea nor China can purchase these components due to sanctions. To compensate, satellites must be made as large as possible to achieve high-definition imaging. This is why Chinese reconnaissance satellites are all large in size. However, North Korea’s military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 is less than 1 meter, making it difficult to consider it high-performance. The honorary research fellow said, "There are rumors that China buys mass-produced components, subjects them to space environment tests, and uses only some that survive," but added, "Considering various factors, it is hard to say the resolution performance is within 3 meters."
Additionally, judging from the launch site and ground facilities, the honorary research fellow analyzed that North Korea evidently rushed the launch under pressure from the supreme leader’s reprimand, without sufficient technical preparation. The launch site equipment shown on North Korean TV was not properly automated, and due to international sanctions, various equipment necessary for operating the military reconnaissance satellite could not be imported, raising doubts about whether a ground station was even established. He said, "Judging from Kim Jong-un’s recent inspection, it seems he was reprimanding rather than encouraging," and added, "It appears they hurried too much without technical readiness, influenced by South Korea’s Nuri rocket launch and South Korea-U.S.-Japan military exercises."
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