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Korea Launch Signals Troubling Progress

Experts believe 'satellite' failure was moderately successful missile test

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 6, 2009 6:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – North Korea's weekend rocket launch failed in the third stage, and its payload—be it friendly satellite or naked nuclear ambition—lies at the bottom of the Pacific, but the test shows alarming progress, experts tell the Los Angeles Times. Analysts dismiss North Korea's claims that a satellite made it into orbit, but believe the test of a multistage rocket will draw notice from the likes of Iran, Syria, and Pakistan.

"North Korea will still be looked upon as a supplier of reasonably good missiles, and the pariah state leader in technology on missiles," says a nuclear weapons expert. The rocket—despite obvious quality control problems—appears to have successfully gone through its first two stages, unlike a 2006 launch that failed within 40 seconds. "It is a huge technical leap for them," says another expert.

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Defectors from North Korea and conservative activists release balloons with leaflets condemning North Korea's rocket launch in South Korea, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean protesters shout slogans during a rally against North Korea's missiles near the US Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

Japan Coast Guard sails in the area of what was believed that "Flying object" fell following North Korea's rocket launch, in the Sea of Japan off Oga, Japan, Sunday, April 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

South Korean protesters scuffle with police during a rally against North Korea's missiles near the US Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 5, 2009. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

In this April 25, 2002 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il claps as soldiers salute him during a military parade celebrating the foundation of the armed forces in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File)

In this undated photo released Sunday, April 5, 2009, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, wearing glasses, inspects the just-renovated Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)

South Korean protesters burn mock missile, pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and North's flags during a rally against North Korea's missile in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, April 2, 2009. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

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North Korea will still be looked upon as a supplier of reasonably good missiles, and the pariah state leader in technology on missiles. - David Albright, a nuclear weapons expert and president of the Institute for Science and International Security

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Korea Launch Signals Troubling Progress