Space
North Korea
Space launch site(s)
Sohae Satellite Launching Station (also known as Tongch'ang-dong Space Launch Center; located in North Pyongan province); Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground (situated in North Hamgyong province) (2025)
Space agency/agencies
National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA; founded in 2013; renamed in 2023 from the National Aerospace Development Administration or NADA); State Space Development Bureau; Academy of National Defense Science; Ministry of People’s Armed Forces (2025)
Space program overview
The leader of North Korea has prioritized the enhancement of space capabilities, specifically in the realms of satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and remote sensing satellites; produces satellites and rockets/SLVs; conducts independent rocket/SLV launches; the SLV initiative is perceived as closely linked to the nation's advancement of intercontinental ballistic missiles; enacted a national space law in 2013, which was amended in 2022 to permit the use of space for national defense purposes; has collaborated with Iran on space-related technologies and formalized a mutual defense treaty with Russia in 2024 that articulated the intent of both nations to "develop exchanges and joint research in science and technology, including space" (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1980s - initiated space program
1998 - failed first attempt to place a satellite in orbit on a 3-stage Paektusan-1 satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
2012 - successfully placed first satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 or Bright Star-3) in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (satellite failed to operate)
2016 - second satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4) placed in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (reportedly a remote sensing (RS) satellite that also failed to operate)
2023 - placed a military RS satellite (Malligyong-1) in orbit on Chollima-1 SLV
2024 - failed attempt to place a second military RS satellite in orbit on new type SLV