PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the recent launch of a spy satellite, asserting it as a demonstration of the country’s right to self-defense amid perceived threats.
The Nov 21 satellite launch, which claimed to place North Korea’s first spy satellite in orbit, drew international condemnation for violating UN resolutions.
Kim Jong Un visited the National Aerospace Technology Administration, commending space scientists and technicians, and described the launch as a response to the “dangerous and aggressive” actions of hostile forces.
The possession of a reconnaissance satellite, he emphasized, is a full-fledged exercise of the right to self-defense that the DPRK armed forces cannot concede. The satellite launch marked North Korea’s third attempt in the year and followed Kim Jong Un’s trip to Russia in September, where President Vladimir Putin pledged support for Pyongyang’s satellite development.
The satellite’s capabilities were celebrated at a reception, with Premier Kim Tok Hun stating it would enhance North Korean military capabilities to strike globally.
