Seoul recovers possible engine debris from NK rocket

Jang Myong-jin, center, the North Korean official said to be in charge of a failed long-range rocket launch escorts a group of foreign journalists, April 8, four days before the launch in this photo released by Pyongyang’s state media. Jang was not on a list of officials involved in a successful launch earlier this month, suggesting he was purged. (Photo : Yonhap)

Seoul has recovered what is believed to be a portion of the engine from North Korea’s multistage rocket launched earlier his month, officials said Friday, in what could provide clues on Pyongyang’s development in the field.

The object was recovered some 160 kilometers off the coast of Gunsan, Jeolla Province, about 430 kilometers south of the North’s launch site. The military has been searching the area in the West Sea where the first stage of the rocket splashed down following the successful Dec. 12 launch.

Two days later, Seoul recovered the 3.2-ton upper part of the first stage of the rocket in the West Sea and it has been under analysis at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in Daejeon.

The launch angered the international community which saw it as a test of ballistic missile technology despite the North’s claim it was in the name of science. Seoul and its allies are pushing for punitive measures for the launch at the U.N. Security Council and have threatened other multilateral sanctions as well.

“Should the object retrieved this time be confirmed to be engine debris, it will be useful for analyzing North Korea’s long-range rocket technology,” a military official said.

Analysis of previously recovered debris revealed that the rocket used red fuming nitric acid as an oxidizer, which is highly toxic and rarely used by countries with advanced space technology.

Pyongyang has hailed the launch as a sign of its progress in science and tied it to new leader Kim Jong-un, who began his second year in power this month.

While the regime may be exalting the scientists behind the success, watchers suggest they may also be purging figures involved in a botched attempt in April.

A list of scientists and officials recognized for the success of this month’s launch did not include prominent officials known to have been involved in the earlier attempt which quickly flamed out.

Reports here pointed to the omission of two key officials Jang Myong-jin and Ryu Kum-chol from the list. Both are said to have been in charge of handling the foreign media invited to the April launch, which was timed for the 100th birth anniversary of late country founder Kim Il-sung. It was supposed to herald the North becoming a “strong and prosperous state.”

Kim has reportedly purged a spate of military officials in a bid to keep the powerful armed forces in check. Analysts said the success of the rocket may have shown the military elite that Kim will continue to allocate resources to them amid rumors that they were not happy of being stripped of lucrative mineral export rights.

The second launch of the year was carried out with far less pomp and apparently caught Seoul and its allies off guard. <The Korea Times/Kim Young-jin>