According to state media
North Korea’s ruler Kim inspects first spy satellite
This footage, released by North Korea’s state-run news agency KCNA on May 17, is said to show Kim Jong Un, ruler of North Korea, and his daughter visiting the North Korean space agency, according to KCNA
© KCNA / DPA
In April, North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un announced the completion of the country’s first spy satellite. Now Kim has inspected the satellite himself for the first time – but the details remain vague.
North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un has inspected his country’s first military spy satellite. He gave the approval for the “future plan of action”, reported state media on Wednesday. According to North Korea’s KCNA news agency, Kim met with the Temporary Committee on Missile Launch Preparations on Tuesday before inspecting the satellite.
Last month, Kim said development of the first satellite was complete and gave it the go-ahead for testing. A date was not mentioned. Kim ordered the satellite launch “on the scheduled date,” it said.
North Korea: Spy satellites as a central defense strategy
The April 18 announcement came about a week after Pyongyang tested a solid-fuel ICBM. This marked a breakthrough for North Korea’s banned weapons program. According to experts, there is significant technological overlap between the development of ICBMs and the ability to launch space missiles.
In 2021, Kim described the development of a military spy satellite as one of the key defense projects.
The military tensions on the Korean peninsula have recently increased drastically. The communist leadership in Pyongyang has repeatedly threatened a military escalation in the region. In the face of North Korea’s ongoing provocations, South Korea and the United States have strengthened their defense cooperation.