ID :
53900
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 09:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/53900
The shortlink copeid
Clear skies, moderate winds over N. Korea's launch site: state media
SEOUL, April 5 (Yonhap) -- Clear skies and moderate winds were expected in North
Korea's northeastern coast, the country's state media forecast Sunday, amid
speculation the North may go ahead with a rocket launch in the relatively good
weather.
North Korea said on Saturday morning that it would "soon" launch what it calls
the communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 from its east coast. Officials in
Seoul speculate strong winds may have forced the North to delay the launch.
"Skies will be clear" in most North Korean towns including Chongjin, North
Hamgyong Province, state radio Korean Central Broadcasting Station forecast.
Chongjin is located in the same province as the launch site, Musudan-ri.
The report said winds in the northern East Sea will blow from the west and later
from the southwest at speeds of 7 to 10 meters per second.
On Saturday, the radio station said "relatively strong" winds were blowing with
speeds of 8 to 12 meters per second with sea waves 1.5 to 2 meters high and
issued an advisory for small ships in the northeastern waters.
Rocket experts say the biggest meteorological factor that could decide the
success of a launch is the strength of wind gusts and the level of
electromagnetic waves in the air, which could block communication with the
rocket.
Wind speeds above 15 meters per second can seriously affect a rocket launch, they
say.
North Korea has given notice to U.N. agencies that it will launch the satellite
during daylight hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time between Saturday and
Wednesday.
South Korea's weather agency expects North Korea will have better launch weather
on Sunday, with weaker winds and clear skies. Wind speeds at Musudan-ri will slow
to 2 to 4 meters per second in the morning and 3 to 5 meters in the afternoon,
according to Ha Chang-hwan of the Korea Meteorological Administration.
Humidity is forecast at between 40 and 60 percent in the morning and 30-50
percent in the afternoon, Ha said.
Winds from the west usually gain strength around the Musudan-ri launch site
because of its location along the eastern edge of a mountain chain that faces the
East Sea, weather officials say.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Korea's northeastern coast, the country's state media forecast Sunday, amid
speculation the North may go ahead with a rocket launch in the relatively good
weather.
North Korea said on Saturday morning that it would "soon" launch what it calls
the communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 from its east coast. Officials in
Seoul speculate strong winds may have forced the North to delay the launch.
"Skies will be clear" in most North Korean towns including Chongjin, North
Hamgyong Province, state radio Korean Central Broadcasting Station forecast.
Chongjin is located in the same province as the launch site, Musudan-ri.
The report said winds in the northern East Sea will blow from the west and later
from the southwest at speeds of 7 to 10 meters per second.
On Saturday, the radio station said "relatively strong" winds were blowing with
speeds of 8 to 12 meters per second with sea waves 1.5 to 2 meters high and
issued an advisory for small ships in the northeastern waters.
Rocket experts say the biggest meteorological factor that could decide the
success of a launch is the strength of wind gusts and the level of
electromagnetic waves in the air, which could block communication with the
rocket.
Wind speeds above 15 meters per second can seriously affect a rocket launch, they
say.
North Korea has given notice to U.N. agencies that it will launch the satellite
during daylight hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time between Saturday and
Wednesday.
South Korea's weather agency expects North Korea will have better launch weather
on Sunday, with weaker winds and clear skies. Wind speeds at Musudan-ri will slow
to 2 to 4 meters per second in the morning and 3 to 5 meters in the afternoon,
according to Ha Chang-hwan of the Korea Meteorological Administration.
Humidity is forecast at between 40 and 60 percent in the morning and 30-50
percent in the afternoon, Ha said.
Winds from the west usually gain strength around the Musudan-ri launch site
because of its location along the eastern edge of a mountain chain that faces the
East Sea, weather officials say.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
