Satellite Launch by North Korea, Causing Concern for South Korea and Japan, Experiences Malfunction

North Korea attempted to launch a space satellite towards the south on May 31, 2023, according to South Korea’s military. The launch triggered emergency alerts and brief evacuation warnings in parts of South Korea and Japan, but these were later withdrawn with no harm reported. Despite this, North Korea’s attempt is part of an increasingly heated space race in the region, with South Korea and China placing satellites in orbit recently. The US State Department warned that any North Korean launch using ballistic missile technology would violate several United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korea has attempted five satellite launches before, with two satellites placed in orbit, but none have shown significant capability.