North Korea’s Space Launch: An Initial Assessment
John Schilling | 38 North
At first glance, North Korea’s launch of an Unha Space Launch Vehicle (SLV) on February 7, 2016, looks very much like a repeat of its successful launch a little over three years ago. In fact, a close examination reveals that the North appears to have used some stock footage of the 2012 launch in its announcement this time around. But there are also images of a rocket launching from the new gantry that North Korea completed only last year. Moreover, the US Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has released the orbital elements of two new bodies in stable orbits, with the identifiers “KMS-4” for the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite and “Unha 3 R/B” for the launch vehicle’s upper stage rocket body.[1] In short, this is not a hoax.
International Community Sharply Criticizes North Korea's Rocket Launch
Camila Domonoske | NPR
"Irresponsible," "senseless," "deplorable," "destabilizing," "totally unacceptable." North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket has filled the isolated nation with pride—and sparked fierce censure from the rest of the world. As we reported yesterday, the launch on Sunday morning local time arrives just a month after a nuclear test that had already raised tensions in the area.
US Hopes to Send Anti-Missile System to South Korea 'as Quickly as Possible'
Thomas Watkins | Defense News
The US military wants to send a sophisticated missile-defense system to South Korea "as quickly as possible," the Pentagon said Monday as it seeks to counter an ever-defiant North Korea. After Pyongyang's launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday, South Korean and US military officials said they would start formal discussions on placing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) on the North's doorstep.
China "Deeply Concerned" Over Discussion on THAAD Missile System Deployment in ROK
Xinhua News
China is "deeply concerned" over the decision by the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to launch an official negotiation on the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), on the Korean Peninsula, a spokesperson said on Sunday. "China holds a consistent and clear stance on the anti-missile issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
Half-Built Nuclear Fuel Plant in South Carolina Faces Test on Its Future
James Risen | New York Times
Time may finally be running out on the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, a multibillion-dollar, over-budget federal project that has been hard to kill. The Energy Department has already spent about $4.5 billion on the half-built plant near Aiken, S.C., designed to make commercial reactor fuel out of plutonium from nuclear bombs. New estimates place the ultimate cost of the facility at between $9.4 billion and $21 billion, and the outlay for the overall program, including related costs, could go as high as $30 billion.
Japanese Bill Seeks to Support Reprocessing Business
World Nuclear News
At a meeting on 5 February, the cabinet approved the bill "to amend the part of the law on funding and management of the reserve fund for the reprocessing of used fuel in nuclear power generation". In a statement the same day, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) noted that reprocessing and the use of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel are key parts of the Basic Energy Plan approved by the cabinet in April 2014. However, the ministry said that with the full liberalization of the country's retail electricity market starting in April, increased competition could have major impacts on business environment surrounding nuclear power.