Kim Jong-un with daughter Ju Ae inspecting the reconnaissance satellite.
© APA/AFP/KCNA VIA KNS/STR
Kim Jong-un hat North Korea’s first military spy satellite and, according to state media, gave the green light for its “future plan of action”.
According to the North Korean news agency, Kim did KCNA last Tuesday the responsible Satellite Launch Committee visited and then together with his Daughter Ju Ae the so-called “Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1“ inspected. This is now “ready for loading,” said KCNA.
The images showing the satellite are partially blurred. You can clearly see that it is covered with golden insulating foil and is equipped with solar cells. He also has one cylindrical shape.
Not much can be seen in the pictures.
© APA/AFP/KCNA VIA KNS/STR
Kim criticizes the West’s “confrontational policy”.
A month ago, the ruler announced that the construction of the “Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1” has been completed. At the time, North Korea did not disclose any further details about the launch or other satellites. According to KCNA, the spy satellite was a reaction of the dictatorship to the “politics of confrontation” the USA and South Korea.
For a long time, however, experts have doubted that North Korea’s satellite program is progressing as quickly as the dictatorially controlled media portrays it. In the December 2022 North Korea said it had one “important test” for the development of a spy satellite. At that time, North Korean media published alleged images that the satellite is said to have taken. However, their quality was so poor that their authenticity was doubted.
Kim inspecting the spy satellite last Tuesday.
© APA/AFP/KCNA VIA KNS/STR
Nuclear strike warning
According to experts, things are happening Pyongyang generally difficult to do without help Russia or China conduct satellite reconnaissance. Nevertheless, Western countries, especially South Korea, are concerned.
“Because North Korea’s reconnaissance satellites are an important factor in the event of a pre-emptive nuclear strike, they pose a significant threat to the South,” it said Yang Moo JinPresident of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, last month AFP. Washington and Seoul are currently intensifying their defense cooperation.
