Previously, rocket debris had been salvaged, and South Korea salvaged suspected North Korean reconnaissance satellite debris. South Korea | satellite | debris
The South Korean military salvaged the wreckage of a suspected North Korean reconnaissance satellite.
According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on June 26th, South Korean military sources revealed on the 26th that the navy salvaged the wreckage of the military reconnaissance satellite "Wanli Jing-1" suspected of being carried by North Korea's "Qianlima-1" rocket in the western waters last week.
The source stated that the military has retrieved multiple pieces of wreckage at the scene and is continuing to carry out related work such as salvage. The military has transferred the suspected wreckage objects to the Datian National Defense Science Research Institute for analysis. According to the report, if the object is indeed a satellite wreckage and in relatively good condition, the military can have a more specific understanding of the technical level of North Korea's reconnaissance satellites.
North Korea has yet to respond to South Korea's attempt to salvage rocket and satellite debris.
According to a previous report by the Korean Central News Agency, on May 31st, North Korea's "Qianlima-1" new carrier rocket carrying the "Wanlijing-1" reconnaissance satellite was launched as planned from the Xihai Satellite Launch Site in Tieshan County, Pyongan Province. The carrier rocket initially flew normally, but after the first stage of the rocket separated, the second stage engine malfunctioned and lost propulsion, before falling into the western waters of North Korea.
The South Korean military salvaged some of the wreckage of a North Korean carrier rocket on June 15th, but did not find the reconnaissance satellite it carried. It is reported that the salvaged wreckage is 15 meters long and has a diameter of about 2.5 meters. It may be the second stage rocket body of the "Qianlima-1" rocket. The cylindrical shaped wreckage has the words "Tianma" printed on its surface and a symbol of "Tianma Xingkong". The South Korean and US military are conducting a joint analysis of the wreckage salvaged from the water.
From June 16th to 18th, the Workers' Party of Korea held an expanded meeting of the 8th Central Committee. According to reports from the Korean Central News Agency, the meeting criticized the satellite launch failure as the most serious mistake and demanded that North Korean officials and scientists in charge of space thoroughly analyze the reasons and lessons of the launch failure, and successfully launch military reconnaissance satellites as soon as possible.