NORTH KOREA SATELLITE LAUNCH

NORTH KOREA SATELLITE LAUNCH

TOPIC: Science & Tech

Context- North Korea appears preparing to launch a reconnaissance satellite. North Korea conducted a record number of missile launches in January, and has suggested it could resume testing of nuclear weapons or its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time since 2017.

Concept-

• The United States and its allies called North Korea’s latest tests of satellite systems clear violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit any development of technology applicable to North Korea’s ballistic missile programmes.
• The satellite launch was condemned by governments in the United States and South Korea as a disguised test of ballistic missile technology capable of striking the continental United States.

History of launches:

• Since 1998 North Korea has launched five satellites under The Kwangmyŏngsŏng program, of which two appeared to have been successfully placed in orbit, including its last in 2016.

Dual-use technology:

• “Dual-use” refers to technology that can be used for both peaceful and military aims.
• Dual-use can also refer to any technology which can satisfy more than one goal at any given time.
• Thus, expensive technologies that would otherwise benefit only civilian commercial interests can also be used to serve military purposes if they are not otherwise engaged.
• Examples of dual-use goods and technology include
  • global positioning satellites,
  • missiles,
  • nuclear technology,
  • chemical and biological tools,
  • night vision technology,
  • thermal imaging,
  • some models of drones,
  • aluminum pipes with precise specifications or certain kinds of ball bearings.

Wassenaar Arrangement:

• The Wassenaar Arrangement is a voluntary export control regime. The Arrangement, formally established in July 1996, has 42 members who exchange information on transfers of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies.
• The Wassenaar Arrangement has been established in order to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
• Wassenaar Arrangement’s Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria.
• It has 42 member states comprising mostly NATO and EU states.
• North Korea is not a part of Wassenaar Agreement.
• It is a successor to the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) from the Cold War era.
• All Plenary decisions are taken by consensus.
• India was inducted to the Wassenaar Arrangement on 7 December, 2017 as the 42nd member.