As UN Sanctions Waver... North Korea Expresses Confidence in Accelerating Space Development

North Korea "Aiming to Become a Space Power... Developing Talent"

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, and his daughter Kim Ju-ae attending the celebration banquet for the successful launch of the reconnaissance satellite on November 23 last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea has reaffirmed its plan to launch 'multiple reconnaissance satellites' this year, stating that it will accelerate its space development. Amid the scheduled dissolution of the UN sanctions monitoring body on North Korea due to Russia's recent veto, North Korea appears to be speeding up the launch of reconnaissance satellites that can significantly enhance its military capabilities.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 1st, Park Kyung-su, Deputy Director of North Korea's National Aerospace Technology General Bureau, held a press conference on the 31st of last month and said, "With the successful launch of the reconnaissance satellite 'Manlilkyung-1' last year, great progress has been made in strengthening national defense capabilities," adding, "We also foresee the launch of multiple reconnaissance satellites this year."

He stated, "In building a socialist power whose rapid development is firmly guaranteed by advanced science and technology today, the development of the space industry holds great significance," and emphasized, "The government of the Republic aims to establish a space power by continuously expanding achievements while implementing advanced and valuable space development plans." Deputy Director Park expressed confidence, saying, "Departments and faculties related to aerospace and satellite communications have been established in higher education institutions, and talents are being nurtured."

Since the North Korea-Russia summit in September last year, North Korea has been accelerating the development of advanced technology while strengthening military cooperation with Russia. Russia is known to have transferred satellite-related technology to North Korea in exchange for ammunition and missiles needed for the war in Ukraine. North Korea successfully placed its first military reconnaissance satellite, Manlilkyung-1, into orbit after three attempts in November last year, and many analyses suggest that Russia's assistance was involved at that time.

Technical exchanges between North Korea and Russia are expected to increase further. On the 28th of last month (local time), due to Russia's veto as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UN expert panel that had been monitoring the implementation of sanctions against North Korea is scheduled to be dissolved starting next month.

Lee Sang-geun, a research fellow at the North Korea Research Division of the National Security Strategy Institute, stated in a report released immediately after the UN Security Council vote, "If the expert panel disappears, countries like China and Russia will no longer care about the disclosure of the panel's investigation results and may violate sanctions," emphasizing, "It is necessary to consider establishing a multinational investigative body outside the UN."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.