North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Orders Spy Satellite Launch As Planned: Report

Kim Jong Un has asked 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.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has asked officials to launch the first spy satellite as planned.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has asked officials to launch the first spy satellite as planned, as reported by the news agency Reuters citing state media. According to the state media, the North Korean leader said that boosting reconnaissance capabilities is a priority to counter "threats" from the United States and South Korea. In December, North Korea conducted an important "final phase" test for a spy satellite and said that the preparations would be complete for the launch by April.

During a visit to the National Aerospace Development Administration on Tuesday, Kim Jong Un urged the deployment of the satellite as scheduled and ordered deploying multiple reconnaissance satellites on different orbits to bolster the country's surveillance capabilities, state news agency KCNA said. According to KCNA, the production of the satellite was completed but it did not further inform about when the scheduled launch date.

"Securing real-time information about the hostile forces' military scenario" is the "most important" task, Kim said, as quoted by Reuters.
In an attempt "to turn South Korea into an advanced base for aggression and an arsenal for war”, Kim Jong Un denounced the deployment of U.S. strategic assets in the region. 

"He (Kim) said that possession of such satellite is a primary task to be indispensably fulfilled to bolster up the armed forces of the DPRK ... and belongs to its sovereignty and legitimate right to self-defence," KCNA said, using the initials of the country's official name. Kim's visit to the space agency comes just days after North Korea tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, development.

"As the U.S. and South Korea are scheming to further tighten their military posture against the DPRK ... it is quite natural for the DPRK to develop its military deterrence strong enough to cope with the serious security environment at present and in the future," Kim said, according to KCNA.