The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2025 Asia

Key space-program milestones North Korea, in 1 edition.

The entry for North Korea published Key space-program milestones in 1 edition of 36, from 2025 to 2025. The text never changed. Each is shown as published. Key space-program milestones in every entry.

editions changed the text
0
the first edition with it
2025
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Key space-program milestones” (2025).

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.

2025

First published
Mark changes

Open the 2025 entry

Entry published as “Korea, North”.

  • 1980s - initiated space program
  • 1998 - failed first attempt to place a satellite in orbit on a 3-stage Paektusan-1 satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
  • 2012 - successfully placed first satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 or Bright Star-3) in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (satellite failed to operate)
  • 2016 - second satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4) placed in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (reportedly a remote sensing (RS) satellite that also failed to operate)
  • 2023 - placed a military RS satellite (Malligyong-1) in orbit on Chollima-1 SLV
  • 2024 - failed attempt to place a second military RS satellite in orbit on new type SLV

1980s - initiated space program
1998 - failed first attempt to place a satellite in orbit on a 3-stage Paektusan-1 satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
2012 - successfully placed first satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 or Bright Star-3) in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (satellite failed to operate)
2016 - second satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4) placed in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (reportedly a remote sensing (RS) satellite that also failed to operate)
2023 - placed a military RS satellite (Malligyong-1) in orbit on Chollima-1 SLV
2024 - failed attempt to place a second military RS satellite in orbit on new type SLV

Central Intelligence Agency. “North Korea: Key space-program milestones.” The World Factbook, 2025–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-korea/key-space-program-milestones.

How to cite