KCNA on DPRK’s Successful Launch of
Satellite Kwangmyongsong No. 2

The DPRK scientists and technicians have succeeded in inserting Kwangmyongsong No. 2 into orbit by launch vehicle Unha-2 according to the state long-term plan for outer space exploration.

Unha-2 was blasted off at 11:20 am on April 5 Juche 98 (2009) in the Tonghae launching site in Hwadae County, North Hamgyong Province and put Kwangmyongsong No. 2 into orbit accurately at 11 hours 29 minutes 2 seconds, 9 minutes 2 seconds after take-off.

The satellite is travelling in an elliptical orbit 490 km perigee and 1 426 km apogee at a 40.6-degree angle of orbital inclination with a period of 104 minutes 12 seconds.

The trial communications satellite is mounted with necessary measuring and transmitting instrumentation.

It is going round in its orbit.

It is transmitting the melodies of the revolutionary hymns “Song of General Kim Il Sung” and “Song of General Kim Jong Il” and information about measurements in 470 MHz and the relay communication through it is being made in the UHF band.

The satellite is very instrumental in carrying out the space exploration for peaceful purposes and breaking technological bottlenecks in launching applications satellites.

The launch vehicle Unha-2 is three-staged.

The rocket-powered vehicle and satellite developed by the DPRK’s technology are a proud fruition of its efforts to raise the level of outer space technology.

The successful satellite launch symbolic of the leaping advance in the nation’s space science and technology was conducted against the background of the stirring period when a high-pitched drive for bringing about a fresh great revolutionary surge is under way throughout the country to open the gate of a great, prosperous and powerful nation without fail by 2012, the 100th birth of President Kim Il Sung, under the far-reaching plan of leader Kim Jong Il. This is powerfully encouraging the Korean people all out in the general advance.

April 5 Juche 98 (2009)