Seoul: N. Korea’s satellite lacked recon capability

Failure to launch: The object salvaged by South Korea’s military presumed to be part of the North Korean space-launch vehicle. — AP

SEOUL: The satellite North Korea failed to put into orbit wasn’t advanced enough to conduct military reconnaissance from space as it claimed, South Korea’s military said Wednesday after retrieving and studying the wreckage.

North Korea had tried to launch its first spy satellite in late May, but the long-range rocket carrying it plunged into the waters off the Korean Peninsula’s west coast soon after liftoff.