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| - Fact Check: This is China's rocket launch, NOT North Korea attacking US tanker in Taiwan
India Today found out that the viral video shows China's rocket launch in the Yellow Sea.
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India Today Fact Check
The video shows a Chinese rocket launch from a marine platform in the Yellow Sea.
On January 14, North Korea conducted a test of its new ballistic missile, equipped with a hypersonic manoeuvrable warhead amidst growing tensions with the US and South Korea. Now, a video going viral purports to show North Korea targeting a US oil and gas tanker in Taiwanese waters.
An X user while sharing the viral video, wrote on Facebook, "North Korea bombs USA Oil and gas tanker with missiles in the waters of Taiwan." Its archive can be seen here.
India Today, however, found that the video shows a Chinese rocket launch in the Yellow Sea.
OUR PROBE
Conducting a reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to several media reports.
Chinese state-owned media CGTN reported on January 11 about China's successful launch of the world's most powerful solid propellant rocket. The Gravity-1 (YL-1), developed by the private Chinese aerospace company Orienspace, successfully deployed three Yunyao-1 meteorological satellites into orbit in its maiden flight off the coast of Haiyang City, Shandong Province. We also came across a video report of the launch on YouTube.
The South China Morning Post highlighted the rocket's capabilities, including a thrust of 600 tonnes and the ability to lift 6.5 tonnes of cargo into near-Earth orbit. The cargo compartment, measuring 4.2 meters in diameter and 9 meters tall, can accommodate decently weighing cargo for China’s space station if necessary.
Similar reports featuring the viral video and details about the Gravity-1 launch can be found here and here.
There have been no media reports of North Korea attacking a US tanker. Notably, China remains North Korea's primary ally. The development surprisingly coincided with Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party securing a historic third consecutive presidential victory. While China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, the self-ruled nation, with tacit US support, asserts its distinct sovereign identity.
Despite these concurrent events in East Asia's geopolitical landscape, the North Korea missile test and Taiwan's election results are not perceived to be directly related.
Thus, it’s clear the viral video falsely claims to show a North Korean attack on a US tanker in Taiwanese waters.
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