North Korea Satellites

Data current as of 2026-07-21.

North Korea is responsible for 8 cataloged objects, of which 2 are in orbit and 1 are active. 3 of those are payloads, with 5 rocket bodies and debris. 6 have reentered. The first launched in 2012, and the most recent in 2023. Its most prolific operator by object count is NADA.

2
In orbit
1
Active
8
Total cataloged
6
Reentered

Object types

3
Payloads
5
Other (rocket bodies + debris)

North Korea satellites launched per year

1 2 3 4 2012: 4 launched, 4 since reentered 2013: 0 objects launched 2014: 0 objects launched 2015: 0 objects launched 2016: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 2017: 0 objects launched 2018: 0 objects launched 2019: 0 objects launched 2020: 0 objects launched 2021: 0 objects launched 2022: 0 objects launched 2023: 2 objects launched 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.

Top operators

The organizations responsible for the most North Korea objects.

Operator Objects
NADA 1
KP 1
KCST 1

Top spacecraft buses

The platforms North Korea satellites are built on.

Bus Satellites
TD Satellite 3

See the North Korea launch history.

North Korea satellites

Track any of them live in KeepTrack.

Name NORAD COSPAR Bus Owner Launched Orbit Status Track
CHOLLIMA-1 R/B Cheonlima-1 Stage 3 58401 2023-179B · KP Nov 21, 2023 92 min, 97.3° Inactive
MALLIGYONG-1 Manligyeong-1 F3 58400 2023-179A TD Satellite KP Nov 21, 2023 95 min, 97.3° Active
UNHA 3 R/B Kwangmyongsong Stage 3 41333 2016-009B · NADA Feb 7, 2016 87 min, 97.3° Reentered
KMS 4 Kwangmyongsong-4-ho 41332 2016-009A TD Satellite NADA Feb 7, 2016 88 min, 97.2° Reentered
UNHA 3 DEB deb Kwangmyongsong-3 F2 39029 2012-072D · KCST Dec 12, 2012 88 min, 97.0° Reentered
UNHA 3 DEB deb Kwangmyongsong-3 F2 39028 2012-072C · KCST Dec 12, 2012 88 min, 97.1° Reentered
UNHA 3 R/B Unha-3 (4) Stage 3 39027 2012-072B · KCST Dec 12, 2012 87 min, 97.5° Reentered
KMS 3-2 Kwangmyongsong-3-ho 2-hogi 39026 2012-072A TD Satellite KCST Dec 12, 2012 89 min, 97.3° Reentered

Frequently asked questions

How many satellites does North Korea have in orbit?

2 North Korea objects are currently in orbit, out of 8 ever cataloged. 6 have reentered.

How many North Korea satellites are active?

1 North Korea objects carry an active status in the catalog, out of 3 payloads.

When did North Korea's first satellite launch?

The first cataloged North Korea object launched in 2012, and the most recent in 2023.

Satellite data compiled by KeepTrack from CelesTrak, Space-Track, and GCAT, provided under CC BY-NC 4.0.