South Korea refuses to launch satellites using Russian rockets due to sanctions

This was reported by Yonhap.

It is noted that the South Korean government planned to launch the Korean multi-purpose satellite 6, known as Arirang 6, on the Russian ship Angara-1.2 this year. The launch was supposed to take place from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northwestern Russia. They also planned to launch a medium-sized next-generation observation satellite aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The South Korean Ministry of Science and IT, which appealed to the government, emphasized that due to the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation, it is difficult to continue launching satellites with the help of Russian rockets.  It also requested an additional budget of 61.1 million dollars (88.1 billion won) from the parliament as part of the new launch agreements.

The ministry plans to cancel the Russian deals and look for new suppliers of space assets if the government approves the request.

It is noted that South Korea is likely to sign agreements with SpaceX and the European Space Agency regarding launches.  The terms of the deals with Russia remain confidential due to a five-year non-disclosure agreement.