‘Signs’ of North Korea likely receiving technical assistance from Russia on satellite launch: Seoul

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA(AA) - South Korea on Monday said that “there seem to be signs” of its arch-rival North Korea receiving technical assistance from Russia over the launch of a military spy satellite.

South Korea's Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho told reporters in Seoul that there is a "very high" chance for the Pyongyang to press ahead with its launch plans once the country completes fixing technical glitches.

His remarks came on the heels of speculations that North Korea is in the final stage of its preparations to make a third attempt to put a military spy satellite into orbit after its two failed attempts in May and August.

"It is hard to predict when North Korea will make the third attempt for the launch. But there seem to be signs of the North receiving technical assistance from Russia," Kim was quoted as saying by Seoul-based Yonhap News.

Kim further asserted there is a "very high" possibility that North Korea will make "provocations once it completes making up for technical problems."

Korean leader Kim Jong-un traveled to Russia in September.