Kim Jong-Il in the center of his satellite control staff
The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Il, watched the successful satellite launch that took place yesterday.
Despite South Korean and US military sources suggesting that the rocket and its payload ditched in the Pacific Ocean, North Korea has given details on its satellite in orbit:
Unha-2, which was launched at the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground in Hwadae County, North Hamgyong Province at 11:20 on April 5, Juche 98 (2009), accurately put Kwangmyongsong-2 into its orbit at 11:29:02, nine minutes and two seconds after its launch.
The satellite is going round the earth along its elliptic orbit at the angle of inclination of 40.6 degrees at 490 km perigee and 1,426 km apogee. Its cycle is 104 minutes and 12 seconds.
KCNA, North Korean News Agency
