North Korean space program

Three months later, after the Law on Space Development was passed in the 7th session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly, the KCST was dissolved and replaced by newly-formed National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA), which was formed on 1 April 2013.

[3][6][7] In 2016, North Korea accepted the Rescue Agreement, an international agreement setting forth rights and obligations of states concerning the rescue of persons in space, as well as the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.

Additionally, in the same year, United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions to the NADA.

[3] In September 2016, North Korea tested a liquid-fueled engine for a rocket capable of placing satellites into geostationary orbit.

South Korean internet newspaper Jaju Minbo carried an article on 23 March 2012 stating that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is likely to launch a lunar exploration satellite.

[21] As a prerequisite paving the way for a crewed Moon landing, the third phase of the NKLEP would be to return rock samples to Earth with a robotic probe as illustrated by an orbital trajectory schematic seen in 2015 at the Pyongyang Science-Technology Complex.

[dubious – discuss] Planned for a launch sometime after 2026, the mission will use a heavy Unha-20 booster able to place it into a lunar trajectory orbit.

Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, said that North Korea also intends "to do manned spaceflight and scientific experiments in space, make a flight to the moon and moon exploration and also exploration to other planets.

"[21] In 2009, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced more ambitious future space projects, including its own crewed space flights and the development of a partially reusable crewed shuttle launch vehicle mockup, which was displayed at Mangyongdae Children's Palace.

The second is a satellite in a proposed geostationary orbit for communication, with an estimated weight of at least one short ton.

[26] Various media outlets have reported that North Korea was in the process of completing one of the two satellites, dubbed "Kwangmyongsong-5", however the expected launch date has yet to be determined.