[AFreeBird]

Not to come to the defense of NK, far from it, but putting a sat into orbit, from NK or northern part of SK, you can't help but go over Japan. I mean, aren't most satellite orbits, directional, west to east? Yes I know there are polar orbits, that intersect equatorial orbits, and I suppose you could have them in counter orbits, but that would be like driving the wrong way on a one-way street?

Just asking, don't know much about orbital mechanics.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Most orbits are west to east (”prograde”) because that’s the way the earth rotates. If you launch east to west (retrograde) you need to overcome the initial impetus imparted by the earth’s rotation. It’s a whole lot more expensive that way.