North Korea has confirmed its plan to launch several reconnaissance satellites this year after placing its first spy satellite into orbit in November 2023, according to Yonhap.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un announced at the end of the year that the country plans to launch three more spy satellites into orbit this year.
"The successful launch of the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 last year has brought about substantial progress in national defense capabilities and several launches are expected for this year as well," said Pak Kyong-su, vice director of the North's National Aerospace Technology Administration, quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Last week, a South Korean military source said that North Korea had installed a screen at the Tongchang-ri space center to prevent tracking. This may indicate preparations for a satellite launch.
According to Pak, North Korea is making efforts to use satellites for various purposes, such as agriculture, land resource management, and disaster prevention.
Launch of a spy satellite in North Korea
According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea received aid from Moscow for the launch of a spy satellite.
North Korea announced in December 2023 that its first spy satellite had begun performing its regular tasks.
Earlier, we reported that North Korea would consider any interference with its satellite operations as a declaration of war.
By the way, North Korea claimed that its reconnaissance satellite had taken images of key US military targets, including the Pentagon, the White House, and naval bases.