North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the country has completed development of the first military spy satellite and instructed those responsible for its launch as planned, the official news agency said on Wednesday.
During a visit to the North Korean aerospace agency on Tuesday, Kim stressed that the acquisition of a space-based surveillance system is critical in the face of US-led security threats, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Pyongyang argues that the weapons tests it has conducted, including the first test launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that was supposed to reach the United States mainland last week, are in response to joint military exercises between Washington and allies in the region, South Korea and Japan.
At the aerospace agency, Kim said military reconnaissance is crucial for the country to effectively use North Korean methods of war deterrence, according to KCNA.
Kim further noted that “Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1” had been built in April and urged efforts to speed up final preparations for launch. However, the date is not yet known.
Also according to KCNA, the leader stated that the Asian country should launch several satellites to establish intelligence gathering capability.
On the other hand, The official accused Washington and Seoul of expanding hostile military campaigns to strengthen the alliance, further accusing the US of turning South Korea into a “forward base for aggression” by deploying strategic assets such as aircraft carriers and bombers with nuclear weapons..
This year, North Korea has launched about 30 missiles in response to joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, which Pyongyang sees as rehearsal for an invasion.
South Korean and US officials say the exercises are defensive in nature and were organized to respond to North Korea’s growing military threat.
Source: DN
