South Korea’s Military Hails Successful Launch of Solid-Fuel Rocket

The first home-launched satellite of South Korea, carried by rocket 'Naro (KSLV-I),' is launched from Naro space center in Goheung, South Korea, on Aug. 25, 2009. (Korea Aerospace Researcher Institute via Getty Images)

South Korea on Dec. 30 successfully test-fired a solid-fueled rocket that it plans to use to put a spy satellite into orbit in the coming years, marking a significant milestone for the country’s defense ministry.

The flight test was conducted to verify the rocket’s essential technologies, including solid-fuel combustion, fairing separation, attitude control technology, and the separation of a dummy satellite.

This was South Korea’s second test flight of a solid-fueled rocket, following the successful launch of a similar rocket in March last year, the defense ministry said in a statement.

“The success of the second flight test of the solid propellant space launch vehicle was an important milestone in laying the groundwork for the ROK military’s independent space force and a step forward to becoming the 7^th largest space power,” it said, using South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The ministry said that South Korea aims to launch its first spy satellite into orbit using solid-fueled rockets as they are more cost-effective and can be mass-produced in a short period of time than liquid-fuel launch vehicles.

“Our military recognizes that the future space domain is a key domain that has a significant impact on national security and will expand jointly-based defense space forces, including solid propellant space launch vehicles, at an early stage,” it added.

The South Korean rocket launch came four days after the South accused the North of flying five drones across the rivals’ border for the first time in five years. South Korea’s military detected the drones but failed to shoot them down, causing security concerns about its air defense network.

On Dec. 27, President Yoon Suk-yeol called for more military preparedness and training, criticizing Seoul’s response after it failed to shoot down any of the five North Korean drones.

“The incident showed a substantial lack of our military’s preparedness and training for the past several years, and clearly confirmed the need for more intense readiness and training,” Yoon said during a meeting.

North Korea then fired three short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Dec. 31. South Korea’s military said the missiles traveled about 220 miles before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The estimated range suggests the missiles tested could target South Korea.

North Korea is also pushing to develop its first military surveillance satellite and other high-tech weapons systems to cope with what it calls U.S. hostility. Earlier this year, North Korea performed a record number of missile tests in what experts call a bid to perfect its nuclear weapons technology and boost its leverage in future dealings with the United States.

Lorenz Duchamps and The Associated Press contributed to this report.