SEOUL: North Korea has emphasized the vital importance of its spy satellite program as a necessary measure to counter the perceived militarization of space by the United States. According to state media KCNA, Ri Song Jin, described as a researcher of the National Aerospace Technology Administration, stated that the spy satellite initiative is indispensable in response to US efforts aimed at strengthening its preemptive nuclear strike capability and securing global supremacy.
Ri specifically accused the United States of seeking greater military dominance in Asia by expanding its space force. He pointed to recent developments such as the visit of the US Space Force commander to Tokyo and the deployment of a Space Force component in South Korea, where joint military drills involving Space Force members took place for the first time this year.
These actions, according to Ri, are veiled attempts to conceal a scenario for a preemptive attack on countries that resist US influence, including North Korea, China, and Russia. Ri emphasized, “Space development, including a military reconnaissance satellite, is an indispensable strategic option for guaranteeing the security interests and the right to existence of the DPRK,” referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s official name.
North Korea Faces Setbacks to Place Spy Satellite in Orbit
North Korea has faced setbacks in its attempts to place a spy satellite in orbit, failing twice in both May and August. Despite these challenges, the country has expressed determination to try again, potentially as early as October. Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia’s state-of-the-art space launch center, where Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged assistance in satellite development.
In another report by KCNA, an international affairs commentator named Ra Jong Min criticized Canada’s participation in “Operation NEON.” This operation, designed to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea, involves the dispatch of military ships, aircraft, and personnel to identify suspected sanctions evasions at sea, including illicit ship-to-ship transfers of fuel.
Ra accused Canada of blindly following its American ally, despite the escalating likelihood of military conflict on the Korean peninsula. He metaphorically described Canada’s involvement as “jumping into fire with brushwood on its back,” indicating the perilous situation created by international tensions in the region.
