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North Korea delays satellite launch over malfunction in first-stage vehicle

The launch was planned to make in the period from December 10 to December 22

TOKYO, December 10 (Itar-Tass) — North Korea delayed a launch of the earth-satellite rocket Kwangmyongsong-3 (Shining Star-3) over the malfunction found in the first stage of the launch vehicle Unha-3, the KCNA news agency reported on Monday with the reference to the North Korean Committee for Space Technologies.

The committee stated earlier that the launching “window” was extended until December 29. The launch was planned to make in the period from December 10 to December 22.

Last April North Korea has taken an attempt at the launch of the similar rocket Unha-3 with the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 (Shining Star-3). The rocket fell apart in the air several minutes after the flight, its debris dropped in the Yellow Sea off South Korea. The North Korean Committee for Space Technologies noted that North Korean scientists analyzed the errors, which resulted in an abortive launch, and “made improvements in the design of the satellite and the launch vehicle.”