Seoul [South Korea], July 6: About a month after North Korea's failed launch of a satellite which it said would be used for military reconnaissance, South Korea has said it did not consider it to be a military-grade piece of equipment.
Large pieces of debris from the rocket and satellite, which launched at the end of May, were subsequently recovered from the Yellow Sea.
The wreckage was then analyzed with the help of US experts, the general staff of the South Korean armed forces said on Wednesday.
The group of experts concluded that the satellite would not have been militarily usable "as a reconnaissance satellite." The general staff said that it had concluded the wreckage recovery work, which began shortly after the crash on May 31.
North Korea admitted the technical failure and said it was planning another launch attempt, however, no date was given.
Pyongyang said the rocket carried the first of its satellites into space for military reconnaissance.
South Korea planned to gain more information on North Korea's missile and satellite development programmes by examining the wreckage. The technology of space missiles and long-range military missiles are similar.
The US, Japan and South Korea all condemned the failed launch, accusing Pyongyang of using technology directly related to its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programme.
Despite a ban by UN resolutions, North Korea increased the scope of its tests with ballistic missiles, which can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
The country is largely isolated internationally and has paid little attention to the UN.
Source: Qatar Tribune
