While North Korea announced that it had completed its first reconnaissance satellite, foreign media reported that security concerns would grow as North Korea has the ability to attack the US mainland.
In a report on the 19th, Bloomberg News reported that although the importance of the space program has decreased as North Korea has recently strengthened its ballistic missile development capabilities, “the launch of satellites will increase security concerns to a level not seen in many years as North Korea is testing new weapons for nuclear attack. will,” he said.
“These include a rapidly deployable solid-propelled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targeting the United States, launched for the first time this month, and a new missile system aimed at attacking US troops stationed in South Korea and Japan,” he said.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North Korean Workers’ Party, reported on the same day that General Secretary Kim Jong-un gave on-site guidance to the National Space Development Agency the day before and said, “To launch the military reconnaissance satellite No. I will finish the preparations quickly,” he said.
Regarding this, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a press conference on the 19th, “Forcing the launch using ballistic missile technology is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions.”
Regarding North Korea’s intentions, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun said, “North Korea appears to be using military reconnaissance satellites to monitor the bases of both U.S. and South Korean forces.”
Meanwhile, North Korea has launched a total of five rockets so far. The launch of the first artificial satellite ‘Kwangmyeongsong-1’ in August 1998, which ended in failure, was the first time. In the West, it was seen as a test launch of a ballistic missile called ‘Daepodong-1’. In April 2009, the Eunha 2 rocket carrying ‘Kwangmyeongseong 2’ was launched, but it is generally evaluated that the second attempt failed to put the satellite into orbit.
In April 2012, the ‘Kwangmyeongsong-3’ was launched from the Seohae launch site in Dongchang-ri, but failed again. However, on December 12 of the same year, around the first anniversary of the death of former National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il (December 17, 2011), a re-launch was attempted and succeeded. The Earth observation satellite ‘Kwangmyongsong-3’ has settled into orbit.
On February 3, 2016, North Korea announced its plan to launch ‘Kwangmyongsong-4’ through a notice to the United Nations Maritime Organization (IMO), and then launched a Kwangmyongsong rocket from Dongchang-ri on February 7th. Analysts say the shot was made on the birthday of former Chairman Kim Jong-il (February 16).
The rocket launch led to controversy. North Korea argued that it was an exercise of sovereignty based on the Treaty on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space, but failed to convince the international community.
Whether or not rocket launches for satellite purposes fall under the “long-range missile launch moratorium” clause has become an issue between North Korea and the United States. The United States, through the UN Security Council, drew a presidential statement condemning this.
The US position was that it violated a UN Security Council resolution banning “all launches by North Korea using ballistic missile technology.”
sanctions could not be avoided. In 2012, UN Security Council Resolution 2087 was adopted. In 2016, the fourth nuclear test was added and Resolution 2270 was passed. At this time, the Park Geun-hye government announced the suspension of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
In particular, the fact that the ‘Kwangmyongsong-3’ was launched right after the February 29, 2012 agreement between North Korea and the United States further increased distrust in North Korea.
In the then agreement, reached after three high-level talks, North Korea agreed to implement a moratorium on its nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including long-range missile launches, nuclear tests and uranium enrichment.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.