Musudan-ri
Encyclopedia
The Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground, also known as Musudan-ri, is a rocket
launching site in North Korea
. It lies in southern North Hamgyong province, near the northern tip of the East Korea Bay
. The area was formerly known as Taep'o-dong (대포동) during the period when Korea was occupied by Japan, thus the Taepodong rockets take their name.
Since 1984 military rockets of the types Hwasong, Rodong and Taepodong-1
were launched from Musudan-ri. In 1998, North Korean media reported the successful launch of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 satellite by a Baekdusan-1
SLV from Musudan-ri. North Korea claimed their first satellite was successfully placed into orbit, but no independent sources have confirmed this. A second failed satellite launch attempt apparently occurred in 2006.
The facilities at Musudan-ri are modest, consisting of a launch pad at 40°51.342′N 129°39.948′E, an engine test stand at 40°51.138′N 129°40.788′E, a missile assembly/checkout building at 40°51.348′N 129°39.552′E, a missile control building at 40°51.78′N 129°39.624′E and a Ground Tracking Facility (coordinates obtained from Google Earth in June, 2006.).
According to senior North Korean officials, the site launched an Unha-2
SLV carrying an experimental communications satellite named Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2
at 0230 GMT on 5 April 2009. It passed over Japan as it headed towards Low Earth orbit
to unload the experimental satellite. However, the United States, South Korea and Japan have maintained it was a test launch of a Taepodong-2
ICBM
class missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. South Korea
and the United States
claim three components of the rocket fell into the Pacific Ocean, and that no new satellite could be detected in space. North Korea maintained though that the satellite was successfully put in orbit. Concerns that the payload could reach areas of the non-coterminous United States
(namely Alaska
and the Hawaiian Islands
) as well as proliferation of the technology have led the United States
and the European Union
to demand strong action from the United Nations
.
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
launching site in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. It lies in southern North Hamgyong province, near the northern tip of the East Korea Bay
East Korea Bay
East Korea Bay is a bay in North Korea and an extension of the Sea of Japan . It is located between the provinces of Hamnam and Kangwon.-See also:*Korean Peninsula*Korea Bay...
. The area was formerly known as Taep'o-dong (대포동) during the period when Korea was occupied by Japan, thus the Taepodong rockets take their name.
Since 1984 military rockets of the types Hwasong, Rodong and Taepodong-1
Taepodong-1
Taepodong-1 is a two-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile developed in North Korea, and the weapon is currently in use there. The missile was derived originally from the Scud rocket, and can allegedly serve as both a nuclear delivery system and a space launch vehicle...
were launched from Musudan-ri. In 1998, North Korean media reported the successful launch of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 satellite by a Baekdusan-1
Paektusan (rocket)
The Paektusan, also transliterated Baekdusan or Pekdosan is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, derived from the Taepodong-1 intermediate-range ballistic missile...
SLV from Musudan-ri. North Korea claimed their first satellite was successfully placed into orbit, but no independent sources have confirmed this. A second failed satellite launch attempt apparently occurred in 2006.
The facilities at Musudan-ri are modest, consisting of a launch pad at 40°51.342′N 129°39.948′E, an engine test stand at 40°51.138′N 129°40.788′E, a missile assembly/checkout building at 40°51.348′N 129°39.552′E, a missile control building at 40°51.78′N 129°39.624′E and a Ground Tracking Facility (coordinates obtained from Google Earth in June, 2006.).
According to senior North Korean officials, the site launched an Unha-2
Unha
The Unha or Eunha is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, which experts say utilises the same delivery system as the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile...
SLV carrying an experimental communications satellite named Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2
In this regard, a delegation of fifteen strong Iranian rocket scientists, including senior officials with Iranian rocket and satellite producer Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, has been in the DPRK since the beginning of March, to help prepare for the launch...
at 0230 GMT on 5 April 2009. It passed over Japan as it headed towards Low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
to unload the experimental satellite. However, the United States, South Korea and Japan have maintained it was a test launch of a Taepodong-2
Taepodong-2
The Taepodong-2 is a designation used to indicate a North Korean two or three-stage ballistic missile design that is the successor to the Taepodong-1.-Details:...
ICBM
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
class missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
claim three components of the rocket fell into the Pacific Ocean, and that no new satellite could be detected in space. North Korea maintained though that the satellite was successfully put in orbit. Concerns that the payload could reach areas of the non-coterminous United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(namely Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
) as well as proliferation of the technology have led the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
to demand strong action from the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
See also
- Tongch'ang-dong Space Launch Center
- Korean People's ArmyKorean People's ArmyThe Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
- List of Korea-related topics
- Geography of North KoreaGeography of North KoreaNorth Korea is located in east Asia on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea shares a border with three states, including China along the Amnok River, Russia along the Duman River, and South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone...
External links
- http://www.astronautix.com/sites/musudan.htm
- GlobalSecurity.org Background on Musudan-ri
- The Meaning of the North Korean Missile Launch. (2009 launch) Posted by GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
on 2009-04-05