South Korean military launches massive search for DPRK missile debris

South Korean military has promptly initiated efforts to retrieve the body and debris of a projectile North Korea has claimed was a space launch vehicle after the failed launch on the morning of August 24.

A senior government official told KBS that Navy vessels and aircraft were deployed for the salvage effort, adding that divers have also been mobilised.

The official said objects separated from the projectile reportedly fell into areas outside two maritime danger zones in the Yellow Sea the North had designated for the launch in a notification to the Japan Coast Guard on August 22.

The official said the Navy vessels and aircraft are heading to sites where military authorities detected parts of the rocket to have fallen.

North Korea’s attempt to send a military spy satellite into orbit has ended in failure for a second time.

The launch took place in the early hours of August 24 morning, the first day of a week-long launch window, but failed because of a problem with the third stage of the rocket carrying the satellite, North Korea said.

It said it would try again in October.