North Korea using Russian satellite navigation system instead of GPS for missile launches, observers say

Pyongyang fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday, the fourth test this month

Source close to Chinese military says the North has been using Glonass and has benefited from Soviet technology

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A woman watches news of the latest North Korean missile test on a screen at a station in Seoul on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:00am, 18 Jan 2022

North Korea has been launching missiles without the support of America’s global positioning system, instead turning to Russia’s satellite navigation network, according to observers.

In its fourth test this month, Pyongyang on Monday fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Pyongyang also conducted tests of hypersonic missiles on January 5 and 11 and fired ballistic missiles on Friday, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The latest tests come after the US on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on North Korea over the launches and again called for Pyongyang to return to denuclearisation talks that have been stalled since 2019.

Pyongyang’s frequent tests in recent years – including two intercontinental ballistic missiles with an estimated range of more than 6,000km (3,700 miles) in 2017 – have drawn condemnation. They have also highlighted the gains in North Korea’s missile programme – even without using America’s GPS.

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