Kwangmyongsong1

Kwangmyongsong-1 (Korean: 광명성1호; literally "Bright Star 1") was North Korea's first satellite. Its launch on August 31, 1998, was officially announced by the North Korean government as a success, claiming the satellite had entered orbit and transmitted patriotic songs. However, international observers and intelligence agencies widely believe the launch was a failure and that the object did not reach orbit.

The launch vehicle used for Kwangmyongsong-1 was the Paektusan-1, a three-stage rocket believed to be derived from the Soviet R-27 Zyb ballistic missile. The launch occurred from the Musudan-ri rocket test site. The international community expressed significant concern over the launch, interpreting it as a test of a long-range ballistic missile, which could potentially deliver a payload over long distances.

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense stated that the rocket appeared to have broken apart in mid-air after traveling approximately 2,485 kilometers. While North Korea maintained the satellite was successful, the lack of independent confirmation and subsequent orbital tracking by other nations led to widespread skepticism. The Kwangmyongsong program continued with subsequent satellite launches, though the success of these later missions also remains a subject of international debate.