The Unha-3 (Milky Way 3) rocket on a launch pad at the West Sea Satellite Launch Site. North Korea launched the rocket Thursday, despite widespread international protest
North Korea’s much hyped long-range rocket apparently crashed into the sea a few minutes after launch in the second week of April 2012.
Pyongyang had defied international pressure from the United States, the United Nations and others to push ahead with the launch timed to celebrate the 100th birthday of Kim Il-Sung, the deceased founder of the state. The failure dealt a blow to the prestige of the state as well as to its new leader.
North Korea said it wanted the Unha-3 rocket to put a weather satellite into orbit, although critics believed it was designed to enhance its capacity to design a ballistic missile to deliver a nuclear warhead capable of hitting the continental United States.
The United States, South Korea and Japan condemned the launch, with Washington, Seoul’s major backer saying it would remain vigilant after North Korea’s “provocative” action. Even close ally China had warned against the launch and South Korean intelligence believes that North Korea may be ready to follow it up with a third nuclear test as it did after a rocket launch in 2009.
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