"Russia, No Evidence of Supporting North Korea's Satellite Launch"... UN "Strongly Condemns"

Russian media criticized allegations that Russia supported North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite launch as baseless claims.

On the 22nd, residents are seen moving around Kaepung County, Hwanghaebuk-do, North Korea, as viewed from Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, where North Korea announced it launched a military reconnaissance satellite the previous night. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to Russian local media on the 22nd (local time), "South Korea believes that North Korea utilized Russia's know-how," but "no evidence has been presented, just as when allegations arose that North Korea supplied Russia with one million artillery shells," they claimed.

However, last September, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during a meeting with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East that Russia would assist North Korea in satellite development.

North Korea announced that at 22:42:28 on the 21st, it successfully launched the reconnaissance satellite 'Manlijeong-1' from the West Sea Satellite Launching Station in Pyonganbuk Province, mounted on the new satellite carrier rocket 'Chollima-1.' Although it cannot be confirmed whether the reconnaissance satellite has definitively entered a normal orbit, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik mentioned that North Korea's reconnaissance satellite is assessed to have entered a normal orbit.

North Korea's satellite launch violates United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions banning all missile launches by North Korea using ballistic missile technology. Russia also voted in favor of these resolutions.

The United Nations strongly condemned North Korea's reconnaissance satellite launch as a violation of Security Council resolutions. Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres urged North Korea to fully comply with all UN Security Council resolutions, return to unconditional dialogue to achieve the complete and verified denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and pursue sustainable peace.

The United States also condemned North Korea's third military reconnaissance satellite launch and emphasized its firm defense commitment to its ally South Korea. White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrian Watson stated in a press release, "The United States strongly condemns North Korea's launch of a space launch vehicle (SLV) using ballistic missile technology," adding, "President (Joe Biden) and the national security team are closely coordinating with our allies and partners to assess the situation."