VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

North Korea appears to be preparing for its second attempt at launching a reconnaissance satellite this year, a move that may prove as controversial as the nuclear-armed country's weapons tests.

A May 31 attempt - North Korea's first such launch since 2016 - ended in fiery failure when its new Chollima-1 rocket crashed into the sea.

North Korea told Japan on Tuesday that it would launch a satellite between Aug. 24 and Aug. 31, its second such attempt this year, prompting criticism from Japan and South Korea.

Here's what we know about North Korea's race for space, and why it's so controversial:

SPACE AMBITIONS

Since 1998 North Korea has launched six satellites, two of which appeared to have been successfully placed in orbit, the last one in 2016.

International observers said the satellite seemed to be under control, but there was lingering debate over whether it had sent any transmissions.

Experts said that North Korea had used a three-stage rocket booster like the Unha-3 of previous launches, but that a new launch pad was clearly built for a larger rocket.

A senior official at North Korea's space agency said after the launch that it planned to put more advanced satellites into orbit by 2020 and eventually "plant the flag of (North Korea) on the moon".

During a party congress in January 2021, leader Kim Jong Un revealed a wish list that included developing military reconnaissance satellites.

The Chollima-1 seems to be a new design and most likely uses the dual-nozzle liquid-fuelled engines developed for Pyongyang’s Hwasong-15 ICBM, analysts said.

South Korea has recovered some of the Chollima-1 wreckage - including, for the first time, parts of a satellite - but has not released detailed findings. Seoul said the satellite had little military value.

DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGY

The United States and its allies called North Korea's latest tests of satellite systems clear violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit any development of technology applicable to North Korea's ballistic missile programs.

North Korea has said its space program and defence activities are its sovereign right.

At the time of the 2016 space launch, North Korea had yet to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The satellite launch was condemned by governments in the United States and South Korea as a disguised test of missile technology capable of striking the continental United States.

Since 2016, North Korea has developed and launched three types of ICBMs, and now appears committed to placing working satellites in space. That would not only provide it with better intelligence on its enemies, but prove it could keep up with other growing space powers in the region, analysts said.

North Korea could use such satellites to more effectively target South Korea and Japan or conduct damage assessments during a war, said Ankit Panda of the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

On the other hand, if North Korea can verify, with its own satellites, that the United States and its allies are not about to attack, it might reduce tensions and provide stability, he added. (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's Foreign Ministry and the New Zealand Government have continued to communicate on efforts to free Susi Air pilot and New Zealander, Philip Mark Mehrtens, who is being held hostage by a Papuan separatist terrorist group.

"They (the New Zealand government) know what the (Indonesian) government is currently doing to free the hostage," Director General of Public Information and Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah said in Padang, West Sumatra, on Monday.

He did not deny that freeing the New Zealand pilot will not be an easy task and will take time. However, the most important thing is that the communication between the two countries continues.

"I, myself, and the New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia meet every two weeks," he informed.

At the routine meeting, the ministry and the ambassador share information, including consular facilitation.

In other words, he said, the Indonesian Government has continued to try to save Mehrtens from the armed group. At the same time, it is hoped that efforts to free the pilot are also made known to all parties.

Earlier, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri said the location where the Egianus Kogoya-led group is keeping the Susi Air pilot is difficult to reach.

According to him, efforts to free the pilot are still prioritizing negotiation by providing space to the community and religious leaders and the Kogoya family to communicate so that they become willing to free the pilot safely.

The New Zealand pilot was abducted by the armed separatist terrorist group on February 7, 2023, shortly after landing in Paro, Nduga district, Papua Pegunungan province. The group also torched the Susi Air aircraft that he had piloted.  (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK) stated on Monday that it is prepared to take action against air pollution offenders in the Greater Jakarta area, which includes Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi.

"Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone has the right to a quality and healthy environment, including the right to clean and healthy air quality," said Rasio Ridho Sani, the Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement at KLHK.

The ministry has established a task force to monitor and enforce laws against stationary sources of pollution, such as coal-fired and diesel power plants, industries, open waste burning, and electronic waste, he said.

KLHK has deployed 100 environmental impact control officials to supervise several points in the Greater Jakarta area, including Marunda, Cakung, Kelapa Gading, Bekasi, and the border with Karawang.

Sani emphasized that the ministry will not hesitate to stop offenders and activities that cause air pollution.

KLHK, he added, will also take other legal measures, such as imposing administrative sanctions, and filing civil and criminal lawsuits.

"We will take these strict actions as a commitment by the government to restore air quality," said Sani.

KLHK is implementing seven steps to control air pollution in the Greater Jakarta area, including identifying air pollution sources, monitoring motor vehicle emissions through emission tests, and planting trees.

These steps also involve supervising stationary emission sources for compliance with permits and laws, enforcing the law, conducting weather modification, and assisting, coordinating with, and supervising local governments.

The government has also initiated weather modification efforts to alleviate air pollution in Greater Jakarta.

Under the weather modification operation, at least 800 kilograms of salt have been spread in the skies of Cianjur, Depok, South Jakarta, and Central Jakarta. (antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono invited the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to play an active role at the 10th World Water Forum scheduled in Bali next year.

"The Indonesian government would like to see SIWI actively participating at the 10th World Water Forum as a party in a working group as well as exhibitions," Hadimuljono noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The minister stated that SIWI's commitment to supporting the implementation of the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Program, initiated by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) by conducting capacity-building activities and various water and sanitation projects, aligns with Indonesia's requirement.

"In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Indonesia aims to provide clean water access to its entire population by 2024 and facilitate 90 percent of its population to access sanitation facilities, including access to piped clean water," he remarked.

He then expressed optimism that SIWI would be able to help Indonesia achieve its objectives by sharing its expertise and experiences.

The minister also invited the Sweden-based institute to expand the number of its representative offices in various regions, including Southeast Asia. Currently, SIWI is operating representative offices in Amman, Jordan and Pretoria, South Africa.

"I wish SIWI good luck in holding the 2023 World Water Week. We hope that SIWI will open representative (offices) in Southeast Asia by placing focus on climate change adaptation programs that can help countries in the region," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of SIWI Karin Gardes, for her part, said that her side has the Stockholm Water Prize Program that aims to present awards to parties that are successful in executing concrete actions in the field of water management.

"We offer programs to enhance the quality of expertise and governance in water management by focusing on the development of infrastructure and technology for handling water crises. It should be noted that transparent and transboundary measures are required to deal with water-related issues," she noted.

She affirmed that SIWI has a mechanism that can be implemented to connect cross-cutting issues, such as pollution and social matters.  (antaranews)