North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country has completed the development of its first military spy satellite and ordered officials to go ahead with its launch as planned, state media reported Wednesday.
During his visit to the North’s aerospace agency Tuesday, Kim stressed it’s crucial to acquire a space-based surveillance system in the face of what he called U.S.-led security threats, the Korean Central News Agency said.
Kim said “the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1” had been built as of April and ordered efforts to speed up final preparations for its launch at a date that wasn’t disclosed. He said North Korea must launch several satellites to firmly establish an intelligence-gathering capability, KCNA said. North Korea, for its part, has carried out about 100 rounds of missile tests since the start of last year, about 30 of them this year. Observers say while North Korea protests the U.S.-South Korean drills, it also uses them as pretext to advance its own military capabilities that it believes would apply more pressure on Washington to make greater concessions such as the relaxing of sanctions.
Kim’s comments appeared to link the spy satellite to the North’s escalatory nuclear doctrine, which authorizes pre-emptive nuclear strikes. According to KCNA, Kim said one of the objectives for its spy satellite is acquiring an ability to “use pre-emptive military force when the situation demands.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Korea, US, Japan to hold missile defence drills to counter North KoreaSouth Korea, the United States and Japan will stage joint naval missile defence exercises on Monday as they push for greater security cooperation to better counter North Korea's evolving missile threats, Seoul's navy said.
Read more »
South Korea, US, Japan hold missile defence drills to counter North KoreaSouth Korea, the United States and Japan staged joint naval missile defence exercises on Monday, in a push to improve security co-operation and respond better to North Korea's evolving missile threats, Seoul's navy said.
Read more »
G-7 diplomats reject Chinese, North Korean, Russian aggressionRussia’s war in Ukraine will consume much of the agenda Monday as the envoys gather in this Japanese hot spring resort town for Day Two of talks meant to pave the way for action by G-7 leaders when…
Read more »
North Korean leader orders spy satellite launch as planned -KCNANorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to launch the first spy satellite as planned, saying that boosting reconnaissance capabilities is a priority to counter 'threats' from the United States and South Korea, state media reported on Wednesday.
Read more »
North West models T-shirt with Kim Kardashian as Marilyn Monroe on itNine-year-old North West supported her mom’s collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, wearing a shirt with her likeness out to dinner.
Read more »
US, allies conduct more drills in face of N. Korean threatThe United States, South Korea and Japan have conducted a joint missile defense exercise in waters near the Korean Peninsula as they further expand military training to counter the growing threats of North Korea’s nuclear-capable missiles.
Read more »