Two years ago North Korea launched a multi-stage rocket into space which passed briefly over parts of the Japanese island during its ascent. Although North Korean officials claimed the rocket had orbited a satellite, western observers could find no trace of a spacecraft and the launching was believed to either have failed to orbit or was a test flight of a ballistic missile configuration. Launch community sources speculated that an agreement could be fashioned with the country that would set quotas for launches of satellites by U.S. or Russian launch vehicles from foreign launching sites with monitoring of North Korean space technology and missile development as part of the deal. Aeospace FYI Inc. A Frank Sietzen, Jr. Company. All Rights Reserved.
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