North Korean space program

The North Korean space program is the program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, to develop its space capabilities.

North Korea first claimed to launch the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 satellite on the Paektusan launch vehicle in 1998. Between 2006 and 2016, it attempted five satellite launches on Unha launch vehicles. The last two were the country's first successful satellite launches, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 and Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4. Between 2023 and 2024, North Korea attempted four launches of Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satellites aboard Chollima-1 launch vehicles, succeeding only on the third attempt.

Unlike its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs, North Korea initially attempted to legitimize its space program from 2009 by joining the Outer Space Treaty and Registration Convention. From 2023, it has cooperated on space industry with Russia.

It is regulated by the National Aerospace Technology Administration. Prior to 2013, it was governed by Korean Committee of Space Technology. As of 2023, the program was relatively unsuccessful.

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