North Korea spy satellite crashes into sea

A handout picture shows a part of what is believed to be a space launch vehicle that North Korea said crashed into the sea off the west coast of the divided peninsula, South Korea, on May 31, 2023. - The Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters

SEOUL, 2023 (AFP): North Korea attempted to launch a military spy satellite on Wednesday (May 31) that would monitor the United States, but it crashed into the sea with Pyongyang conceding there had been "serious defects".

North Korea does not have a functioning satellite in space and leader Kim Jong Un has made developing a military spy satellite a top priority for his regime, personally overseeing some launch preparations.