A Korean scientist says a third attempt to launch the nation's first space rocket will come regardless of whether Korea or Russia is responsible for last week's failed launch of the Naro.

The director of the launch vehicle research center at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute Cho Kwang-rae told reporters Sunday that Korean scientists see no reason to argue about who is responsible for the failed launch. He dismissed speculation that both sides are trying to hold each other accountable for the mishap.

Cho said that under a bilateral contract on the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 project, Seoul has the right to request Moscow for a third attempt if even one of the previous two attempts ends in mission failure.

The institute says mission failure means that the launch vehicle fails to place the satellite into its planned orbit.