Special to WorldTribune.com

By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com

SEOUL — North Korea’s stunning announcement that it plans to launch a long-range rocket just two weeks after reaching a major diplomatic breakthrough with the United States reflects a “policy battle” unfolding between the hardline military and diplomatic technocrats in the reclusive nation, government officials and analysts in Seoul say.

The power struggle indicates that the country’s newly-installed young ruler, Kim Jong-Un, has yet to gain firm control over the country and has been swayed by elderly leaders and potential rivals, they say.

North Korea announced on March 16 that it would launch a satellite into orbit between April 12-16, timed to coincide with the country’s largest-ever celebration marking the 100th birthday of Kim’s grandfather and national founder, Kim Il-Sung that falls on April 15.

The North claimed the launch of the Unha-3 (Galaxy-2) rocket is intended to place a satellite called “Kwangmyongsong-3″ (Bright Star-3) into orbit as part of a peaceful space program.

The announcement was issued by the [North] Korean Committee for Space Technology in a bid to disguise the launch as having non-military purposes, analysts said.

Read complete article.

  Bright Star 3 satellite, Kim Il-Sung birthday, Korean Committee for Space Technology, N. Korea ‘zigzagging’ on rocket launches called sign Kim Jong-Un lacks full control, Unha-3 rocket