The self-declared nuclear power North Korea has completed the development of its first earth observation satellite for military purposes. During an inspection visit by the Aerospace Development Agency, ruler Kim Jong Un ordered preparations for the satellite launch to be accelerated, state media reported on Wednesday.
The “number one military reconnaissance satellite” is now complete and could be shot down at the scheduled time, Kim was quoted as saying. When exactly the start should take place remained unclear.
The aim must be to launch several such satellites into different orbits in the future in order to be able to better counter the “threats” to the USA and South Korea, said Kim. The ruler accused both countries of an aggressive attitude towards North Korea.
The ruling Labor Party described the most important task as gaining access to space reconnaissance and “real-time information on the military scenario and the activities of hostile forces”.
Kim’s visit to the agency came just days after North Korea recently launched an ICBM that could theoretically reach US territory. The largely isolated country spoke of testing a new type of ICBM with solid fuel propulsion.
North Korea is barred from testing ICBMs and other ballistic missiles by UN decisions. Depending on the design, such rockets can be equipped with one or more nuclear warheads. North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is perceived as a direct threat by the US and its allies.
North Korea had already reported in December that it had successfully tested the development of a reconnaissance satellite. It remained unclear which rocket was used to transport the “satellite test body”. The space and long-range missiles are largely based on the same technology. (dpa)
