D8k8 777 slotsPRK military reconnaissance satellite launch ends in failure: KCNA

SEOUL -- The launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on Monday by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) suffered a failure, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) of the DPRK conducted the launch of reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1-1 aboard the new-type satellite carrier rocket at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan County of North Phyongan Province on Monday, the KCNA report said.

The launch failed due to an air blast of the carrier rocket during the first-stage flight, an official from the NATA was quoted by the KCNA as saying.

A preliminary conclusion was made by the experts from the field headquarters of the non-permanent preparatory committee for launching satellites, attributing the cause of the accident to the reliability of operation of the newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine, the report said.

The country will examine other potential causes for the launch failure, the report added.