North Korea has failed to carry out a successful space launch since it first placed a military spy satellite into orbit nearly two years ago, with its only attempt in 2024 ending in a massive fireball despite apparent Russian assistance.

But the explosive failure and extended launch hiatus since hasn’t necessarily derailed Pyongyang’s broader satellite ambitions, according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who argues that the lack of visible progress may mask a reality in which the allies are laying the groundwork for the DPRK’s space program to really lift off.