South Korea’s unannounced rocket launch causes UFO scare

South Korea’s navy confirmed it test-fired a solid-fueled rocket Friday after its unannounced launch triggered transient public scare of a suspected UFO look or a North Korean missile launch.

The Protection Ministry mentioned in a press release that the rocket launch was a part of its efforts to construct a space-based surveillance functionality and bolster its protection posture.

It mentioned it didn’t notify most of the people of the launch prematurely as a result of it concerned delicate navy safety points.

A twisty tendril of vapor in white-to-red ombre might be seen snaking behind a vibrant white gentle in elements of South Korea’s sky Friday night. South Korean social media and websites had been abuzz with messages by residents who mentioned they noticed a hovering object, rainbow-colored vapor path or different mysterious lights. Some additionally posted images and movies.

“What is that this? Is that this a UFO? I’m scared,” mentioned one Twitter consumer. One other mentioned they suspected it was a North Korean missile launch and frightened a couple of warfare, whereas a 3rd mentioned they believed a North Korean spy working in South Korea was sending a sign again to the North. Others suspected it was a supernatural phenomenon.

South Korean emergency places of work and police obtained lots of of residents’ studies of witnessing of a suspicious flying object and mysterious lights throughout the nation, in line with native media.

The South Korean rocket launch got here 4 days after the South accused the North of flying 5 drones throughout the rivals’ border Monday for the primary time in 5 years. South Korea’s navy detected the drones however did not shoot them down, inflicting safety issues about its air protection community. The navy later provided a uncommon apology for that.

South Korean officers mentioned they plan to make use of a solid-fueled rocket to place the nation’s first spy satellite tv for pc into orbit. In March, South Korea carried out its first profitable launch of a solid-fuel rocket.

Strong-fuel rockets cut back launch instances, have easier buildings and are cheaper to develop and manufacture than liquid-fuel rockets, South Korean officers mentioned.

The Protection Ministry mentioned Friday’s launch was a follow-up check of the March launch.

North Korea can be pushing to develop its first navy surveillance satellite tv for pc and different high-tech weapons techniques to deal with what it calls U.S. hostility. Earlier this yr, North Korea carried out a document variety of missile assessments in what consultants name a bid to prefect its nuclear weapons expertise and increase its leverage in future dealings with the USA.