Kim Jong Un has pledged to develop a variety of advanced weapon systems, including reconnaissance satellites. North Korea has not disclosed a launch date, but analysts believe it may occur within the next few weeks.
Kim Jong Un and his daughter inspected a military spy satellite North Korea plans to deploy soon.
The leader stressed space-based reconnaissance for combating the US and South Korea at an aerospace complex.
During his visit, Kim authorized an unspecified “future action plan” in preparation for the satellite’s launch, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of North Korea.
In images published by the country’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper, Kim and his daughter Kim Ju Ae, believed to be about nine years old, were seen wearing white lab coats and conversing with scientists near what appeared to be a satellite component.
The object, which was surrounded by red tape, was not identified by the newspaper.
Kim has pledged to develop a variety of advanced weapon systems, including spy satellites.
The leader announced the completion of the satellite’s construction and authorized its launch last month.
After experts validated its spaceworthiness, the KCNA announced that it was ready to be put on a rocket.
North Korea has not announced a launch date, which observers say may be in weeks.
This launch would employ long-range missile technology prohibited by previous UN Security Council resolutions. Even though previous missile and rocket tests have demonstrated North Korea’s capability to launch a satellite into space.
Nonetheless, according to some South Korean analysts, the satellite depicted in state media photographs appears to be too small and poorly constructed to sustain high-resolution imagery.
A satellite launch by North Korea, according to South Korea, would contravene numerous UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting launches involving ballistic technologies and “threaten regional peace and stability.”
KCNA reported that Kim stated that procuring a spy satellite was crucial to his efforts to strengthen North Korea’s defenses as “US imperialists and (South Korean) puppet villains escalate confrontational moves” against the country.
He was referring to the expansion of US-South Korea joint military exercises.
In 2012 and 2016, North Korea launched its first and second Earth observation satellites. But according to foreign experts, neither satellite transmitted imagery back to North Korea.
The United Nations Security Council issued sanctions in response to these launches.
