North Korea's Military Reconnaissance Satellite "Malligyong-1"

[Sineva]

A rather [inadvertently] funny article from the wsj,whoever wrote it apparently doesnt seem to know theres a difference between hydrogen and hydrazine,or maybe they were getting it mixed up with hydrogen peroxde or hypergolic,who knows?.

North Korea’s Fiery Spy-Satellite Test Shows More Than Failure

"In the past, North Korea appeared to have relied on hydrogen as fuel and so-called “red fuming nitric acid” as the oxidizer necessary for rocket combustion"

"Nations with advanced space programs have also moved away from using hydrogen, due to the toxic substances released as fuel burns, the lengthy fueling time and the higher rates of explosion, said Hong Min, head of North Korean research at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-funded think tank in Seoul."

Well,that clearly explains it all then.The articles author was talking to an "expert" from a "think tank".
Mystery solved.

 

[Maro.Kyo]

A rather [inadvertently] funny article from the wsj,whoever wrote it apparently doesnt seem to know theres a difference between hydrogen and hydrazine,or maybe they were getting it mixed up with hydrogen peroxde or hypergolic,who knows?.

North Korea’s Fiery Spy-Satellite Test Shows More Than Failure

"In the past, North Korea appeared to have relied on hydrogen as fuel and so-called “red fuming nitric acid” as the oxidizer necessary for rocket combustion"

"Nations with advanced space programs have also moved away from using hydrogen, due to the toxic substances released as fuel burns, the lengthy fueling time and the higher rates of explosion, said Hong Min, head of North Korean research at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-funded think tank in Seoul."

Well,that clearly explains it all then.The articles author was talking to an "expert" from a "think tank".
Mystery solved.

Sorry to break it for you, but KINU is a state-run national policy research institute, not just some random "think tank", along the likes of Heritage Foundation and Co.. It's just the author of the WSJ article being an idiot who doesn't know Hypergolics are not Hydrogen.