Rare satellite image shows N. Korean rocket in flight

(ATTN: RECASTS lead, headline; ADDS details, background throughout; TRIMS)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 7 (Yonhap) -- The North Korean rocket that apparently failed to put
a satellite in orbit initially flew northeast after blasting off from its coastal
launch pad, generating a massive flame and a long trail of fumes, a rare
satellite image showed Tuesday.
North Korea on Sunday launched a three-stage rocket that it claimed successfully
orbited a communication satellite after being launched from the Musudan-ri base
on its east coast.
South Korea and the United States dispute the success, declaring no object
entered orbit and suspecting that the launch was a banned test of a long-range
ballistic missile capable of hitting Alaska.
"The missile's exhaust plume can be seen, and the flame from the burning
propellant registers in the imagery as a solid white mark," the Institute for
Science and International Security said, unveiling a photo that "appears to have
caught the Musudan-ri missile in flight."
The Washington-based think tank said the black-and-white photo, captured by a
DigitalGlobe satellite on April 5, was taken over terrain only a few kilometers
away from the launch pad.
Seoul and Washington say the first stage of the rocket fell into the East Sea
while the remaining two landed along with the payload in the Pacific Ocean after
flying over Japan.
The countries have refused to disclose the coordinates of the location in which
the rocket last landed, but media reports suggest 2,700-3,100 kilometers away
from the launch site.
The trajectory of the rocket has also yet to be disclosed. South Korea said
Monday such information, under analysis, could shed light on the disputed purpose
of the rocket launch.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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