Images: North Korea's Rocket and Missile Program

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket

This still from a CNN broadcast shows a close-up of the nose cone atop North Korea's Unha-3 rocket, which country officials say will launch a satellite into orbit in April 2012.

North Korea's Kawngmyongsong-1 Satellite

In this still from a CNN broadcast, a North Korean official briefs reporters on the Kawngmyongsong-1 ("Bright Star 1") satellite, which is set to launch atop the country's Unha-3 ("Galaxy-3") rocket to launch in April 2012.

North Korea Rocket Launch: Video Animation

This still from an Analytical Graphics, Inc., video animation depicts North Korea's Unha-3 rocket and Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite in the last leg of a potential orbital launch in April 2012.

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket

This still from a CNN broadcast shows a close-up of the flag emblazoned on North Korea's Unha-3 rocket, which country officials say will launch a satellite into orbit in April 2012.

North Korea Rocket Launch Site

This DigitalGlobe 50-cm-resolution natural color image of the North Korean launch site at Tongchang-ri, in the northwest part of the country, was taken March 28, 2012. DigitalGlobe imagery confirms a higher level of activity within the overall facility and significant activity at the launch pad specifically, ahead of a satellite launch planned between April 12 and April 16.

North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Facility

This is a DigitalGlobe 50 cm resolution panchromatic satellite image of the new reactor under construction in Yongbyon, North Korea, on Feb 3, 2012.

North Korea’s Missile Launch Site Under Watchful Eyes

GeoEye’s IKONOS commercial remote sensing spacecraft have maintained an eye on North Korea’s Musudan launch site, in the northeastern part of the country, as seen in this 2001 image.

North Korea's Unha-2 Rocket Launches in 2009

Illustration of the April 2009 launch of North Korea's Unha-2 rocket, which North Korean officials say successfully blasted a satellite into orbit. Western observers say the launch failed.

North Korean's Unha-2 Rocket Streaks Skyward

This computer illustration shows North Korea's Unha-2 rocket streaking toward space shortly after its April 2009 launch. Western experts say the rocket's third stage failed, and the Unha-2's satellite payload never reached orbit.

North Korea's Failed 2009 Satellite Launch

Illustration of North Korea's attempt to loft an experimental satellite to Earth orbit in 2009. North Korean officials claim success, but Western observers say the effort failed.