Seoul, South Korea (AP) – North Korea is continuously advancing towards arms enhancement and security measures as a response to the joint alliance and military exercises of North Korea and the U.S. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, vowed again to push for a second attempt to launch a spy satellite as she lambasted a U.N. Security Council meeting over the North’s first, failed launch.
Last Wednesday, North Korea’s initial bid to place a military spy satellite into orbit ended in failure as the rocket crashed off the western coast of the Korean Peninsula. Despite the failure, the U.S., Japan, and other countries requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to address the launch, which violated council resolutions prohibiting the North from utilizing ballistic technology.
In a statement, Kim Yo Jong, who also holds a senior position within the ruling party, characterized the U.N. council as a “political appendage” of the United States, suggesting that the meeting was convened in response to an American “gangster-like request.” She criticized the council for displaying discrimination and rudeness by focusing solely on North Korea’s satellite launches, while ignoring the thousands of satellites deployed by other nations. Kim Yo Jong asserted that her country’s pursuit of a spy satellite is a legitimate response to the military threats posed by the U.S. and its allies.
“North Korea will continue to take proactive measures to exercise all the lawful rights of a sovereign state, including the one to a military reconnaissance satellite launch,” stated Kim Yo Jong, as reported by state media.
Although she did not specify a timeline for the second launch attempt, Kim Yo Jong stated in a previous message on Friday that the North’s spy satellite would be successfully placed in orbit in the near future.
South Korea’s intelligence agency informed lawmakers on Wednesday that it would likely take “several weeks” for North Korea to determine the cause of the failed launch. However, if the defects are not severe, the country may proceed with a second attempt in the near future.
The acquisition of a military surveillance satellite is part of Kim Jong Un’s broader objective to acquire advanced weaponry amid escalating security tensions with the United States. Since the beginning of 2022, Kim has conducted over 100 missile tests, positioning them as a warning against the expanded military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea.
Experts suggest that Kim aims to leverage his modernized weapons arsenal to secure concessions from Washington and its allies in future diplomatic negotiations.
North Korea has faced multiple rounds of U.N. sanctions due to its past nuclear and missile tests, as well as satellite launches. However, attempts to strengthen these sanctions in response to North Korea’s recent testing activities have been blocked by China and Russia, permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. During the recent council session on Friday, China and Russia clashed with the U.S. over the North’s failed launch.
Previous attempts by North Korea to place Earth-observation satellites into orbit occurred in 2012 and 2016. However, foreign experts have found no evidence indicating that either satellite successfully transmitted imagery or other data.
In another development, North Korea threatened not to provide advance notification to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regarding future satellite launches, in protest against the group’s condemnation of North Korean missile tests.
Kim Myong Chol, an international affairs analyst in North Korea, emphasized in a state media statement that the IMO should independently address and bear responsibility for all consequences arising from North Korea’s satellite launches and the impact points of their carriers.
Prior to the recent spy satellite launch, North Korea had notified the IMO and Japan that the launch would occur between May 31 and June 11.
