ID :
53594
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/53594
The shortlink copeid
Cloudy skies but no strong winds over N. Korean launch site: weather agency By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Cloudy skies but no strong winds or rain are expected this weekend for North Korea's northeast region, where the country may soon launch a rocket, South Korea's weather agency said Friday.
Wind speed in North Korea's Hamgyong province, where the launch could occur as
early as Saturday, will be limited to less than 5 meters per second, which is
categorized as "weak," said Lim Jang-ho, spokesman for the Korea Meteorological
Administration in Seoul.
The northeastern coastal region will be under a relatively low atmospheric
pressure trough on Saturday and Sunday, which usually leads to cloudy weather,
with the wind direction likely blowing out of the northwest or west, Lim said.
"We expect wind caused by the atmospheric pressure above North Hamgyong Province
will be weak to moderate over the weekend, not so strong," Lim said. "There might
be local wind, but local wind is usually not strong enough to suspend flight."
Rocket experts say the biggest meteorological factor that could decide the
success of a launch is the strength of wind gusts.
The weather is forecast to be relatively sunny on Monday as a high atmospheric
pressure system descends over the region, he said. Cloudy skies are again
expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, with wind speeds for the next week not yet
forecast, Lim said.
But the weather agency cautioned that the accuracy of its forecast is limited due
to a lack of data. South Korea receives North Korean weather information from the
World Meteorological Organization, a U.N. weather watchdog, to which North
Korea's weather agency submits its data, and there is no direct channel between
the two Koreas, Lim said.
North Korea said it will launch the communications satellite "Kwangmyongsong-2"
via carrier rocket Unha-2 during daylight hours between April 4 and 8. U.S.
defense officials said on Wednesday North Korea is fueling the rocket in a final
step toward the launch, a sign it could take place as early as Saturday.
South Korea, the U.S. and Japan suspect the satellite launch is a cover for
testing North Korea's long-range missile test and have threatened U.N. sanctions
if it goes ahead with the launch.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Wind speed in North Korea's Hamgyong province, where the launch could occur as
early as Saturday, will be limited to less than 5 meters per second, which is
categorized as "weak," said Lim Jang-ho, spokesman for the Korea Meteorological
Administration in Seoul.
The northeastern coastal region will be under a relatively low atmospheric
pressure trough on Saturday and Sunday, which usually leads to cloudy weather,
with the wind direction likely blowing out of the northwest or west, Lim said.
"We expect wind caused by the atmospheric pressure above North Hamgyong Province
will be weak to moderate over the weekend, not so strong," Lim said. "There might
be local wind, but local wind is usually not strong enough to suspend flight."
Rocket experts say the biggest meteorological factor that could decide the
success of a launch is the strength of wind gusts.
The weather is forecast to be relatively sunny on Monday as a high atmospheric
pressure system descends over the region, he said. Cloudy skies are again
expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, with wind speeds for the next week not yet
forecast, Lim said.
But the weather agency cautioned that the accuracy of its forecast is limited due
to a lack of data. South Korea receives North Korean weather information from the
World Meteorological Organization, a U.N. weather watchdog, to which North
Korea's weather agency submits its data, and there is no direct channel between
the two Koreas, Lim said.
North Korea said it will launch the communications satellite "Kwangmyongsong-2"
via carrier rocket Unha-2 during daylight hours between April 4 and 8. U.S.
defense officials said on Wednesday North Korea is fueling the rocket in a final
step toward the launch, a sign it could take place as early as Saturday.
South Korea, the U.S. and Japan suspect the satellite launch is a cover for
testing North Korea's long-range missile test and have threatened U.N. sanctions
if it goes ahead with the launch.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
