(LEAD) Chronology of North Korea's space vehicle launches

(LEAD) NK rocket-chronology

(LEAD) Chronology of North Korea's space vehicle launches

(ATTN: UPDATES with details of latest launch)

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday claimed it has successfully placed a military spy satellite into orbit on its third attempt. The following is a chronology of the North's purported space vehicle launches since 1998.

-- Aug. 31, 1998: North Korea launches the Kwangmyongsong-1 satellite on the Taepodong-1 rocket from its launch site in Musudan-ri in North Hamgyong Province, but it ends in failure.

-- April 5, 2009: North Korea launches the Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite on the Unha-2 rocket at the Musudan-ri launch site, but it ends in failure.

-- April 13, 2012: North Korea launches the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite on the Unha-3 rocket from its launch site in Tongchang-ri in North Pyongan Province. But the rocket crashes in pieces into the sea shortly after takeoff.

-- Dec. 12, 2012: North Korea launches the Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2 satellite on an improved version of the Unha-3 from the Tongchang-ri launch site in North Pyongan Province. The North says it successfully put the satellite into orbit.

-- Feb. 7, 2016: North Korea launches the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite on the Kwangmyongsong rocket from the Tongchang-ri launch site. The North says it successfully placed the satellite into orbit.

-- May 31, 2023: North Korea launches the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite on the Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Tongchang-ri. The launch fails due to the "abnormal" startup of its second-stage engine, according to its state media.

-- Aug. 24, 2023: North Korea launches the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite on the Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Tongchang-ri. The launch fails due to an error in the "emergency blasting system" during the third-stage flight, according to its state media.

-- Nov. 21, 2023: North Korea launches the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite on the Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Tongchang-ri. The North claims it accurately put the satellite into orbit.

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