SEOUL/TOKYO - North Korean state media reported that a satellite launch conducted on Wednesday was unsuccessful, resulting in the booster and payload falling into the sea. The South Korean military stated that they recovered components of the launch vehicle.

According to the North Korean state news agency KCNA, the failure of the "Chollima-1" satellite launch rocket was attributed to engine and fuel system instability. This launch was North Korea's sixth attempt to launch a satellite and the first since 2016. The intended purpose was to place their first spy satellite into orbit.

Following the failed satellite launch, emergency alerts were issued in certain regions of South Korea and Japan, leading to brief evacuation warnings. However, no danger or damage was reported, and the alerts were subsequently withdrawn. The Joint Chiefs of Staff in South Korea announced that they were engaged in a salvage operation to retrieve presumed parts of the space launch vehicle. The military shared images of debris retrieved from the sea, which included a buoy-connected large cylindrical object.

George William Herbert, an adjunct professor at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies and a missile consultant, commented on the images of the recovered debris, stating that they indicated the presence of a rocket, specifically noting the inclusion of an "interstage" section designed to connect different stages. Herbert further suggested that the rocket was most likely a liquid-fuel rocket, pointing out a round, brown object within the debris, which he believed could be a propellant tank for either fuel or oxidizer.

In response to the launch, officials from the United States, Japan, and South Korea held a phone call, during which they expressed strong condemnation, as reported by Japan's foreign ministry. The joint statement emphasized the need for continued vigilance and a heightened sense of urgency among the three countries.

North Korea had previously announced its intention to launch its first military reconnaissance satellite between May 31 and June 11 in order to enhance monitoring of U.S. military activities. South Korea had recently achieved a milestone by successfully placing satellites in orbit using a domestically designed and produced rocket. Additionally, China conducted a crew rotation on Tuesday, sending three astronauts to its space station.

North Korea's recent satellite launch ended in failure as the rocket plunged into the sea due to technical issues with the second-stage engine. The North Korean government acknowledged the failure and plans to investigate and address the problems before attempting another launch.

South Korea believes there is a possibility of another launch attempt before June 11, but it may take several months for North Korea to resolve the technical issues. Initial emergency warnings and air raid sirens caused panic in Seoul, but it was later revealed that the alerts were a mistake.

Similarly, Japan issued warnings to residents in Okinawa but clarified that the rocket would not pose a threat. The situation has since calmed down, and markets have stabilized.

North Korea's recent satellite launch using ballistic missile technology has been condemned by the White House, Japan, and the UN Secretary-General. The launch was unsuccessful, with the rocket disappearing from radar above the Yellow Sea and failing to reach space.

North Korea's justification for the launch was to gather real-time information about enemy military activities due to ongoing joint military exercises by the US and South Korea.

Japan lodged a complaint with North Korea through diplomatic channels, expressing strong condemnation. Analysts note that while North Korea has attempted satellite launches in the past, their capacity to construct functional satellites remains uncertain.