South Korea recovers part of rocket used in North’s failed satellite launch

A handout picture shows a part of what is believed to be a space launch vehicle that North Korea said crashed into the sea off the west coast of the divided peninsula, and which the South Korean military had salvaged, at an unidentified location in South Korea, June 15, 2023. The Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

The debris was salvaged on Thursday evening from the seabed about 75 metres (246 feet) below the surface off the west coast, the military said, adding that the search continued for additional objects from what the North said was a space launch vehicle.

The debris was salvaged on Thursday evening from the seabed about 75 metres (246 feet) below the surface off the west coast, the military said, adding that the search continued for additional objects from what the North said was a space launch vehicle.

South Korea began retrieving debris shortly after the launch, and had already recovered smaller parts. But the operation had faced difficulties partly because of a strong tide and bad visibility, prompting the military to dispatch 10 vessels and dozens of deep-sea divers.

Photographs released by the Joint Chiefs of Staff showed a large cylindrical object marked “Chonma,” meaning a winged horse in Korean. North Korea had said the rocket was named “Chollima-1.”