North Korea’s chances of succeeding in spy satellite launch high, says South Korea
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Train commuters in Seoul watch a broadcast of a North Korean rocket being launched into space.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL – North Korea is in the final stages of preparations for the launch of a spy satellite, and the chances of the third attempt succeeding are high, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing South Korea’s intelligence service.
North Korea has also sent more than 10 shipments of munitions to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, including over a million artillery rounds, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was quoted as saying.
That is roughly the supply of munitions that Russia expends in its war with Ukraine in two months, a member of Parliament, Mr Yoo Sang-bum, was quoted as saying.
The NIS made the report in a closed-door Parliament intelligence committee session, local media reported, citing a committee member who was in attendance.
North Korea has made two attempts
The launch is part of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s push to bolster his nation’s military capabilities that also include long-range ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines and hypersonic missiles.
The North previously pledged to make a third attempt in October, but has so far shown no indication that it was going ahead with the launch.
Mr Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September
South Korea, Japan and the United States have condemned the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia, laying out what they said was evidence that confirmed deliveries of such shipments.
“North Korea is also seen to be trying to use the Israel-Hamas war in a multifaceted way,” Mr Yoo was quoted as saying after the spy agency briefing.
“Indications of Kim Jong Un’s order to look for ways to comprehensively support the Palestinians have been obtained,” he added.
North Korea has denied it is supplying arms to Russia and has also dismissed reports by some military experts that its arms are being used by Hamas militants against Israel.
The spy agency also said North Korea dispatched a delegation that mainly consists of experts on artillery to Russia in mid-October, news reports said. REUTERS
