Pyongyang – On Saturday, North Korea announced its intention to enhance its space reconnaissance capabilities by launching additional satellites this year. An unnamed spokesperson for the North's National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) stated through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that these missions are crucial for monitoring and controlling military movements by the U.S. and other hostile forces.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the push for expanded space capabilities comes in response to perceived U.S. ambitions to militarize space, which Pyongyang views as a threat to regional security. North Korea successfully launched its first spy satellite, Malligyong-1, into orbit last November after two unsuccessful attempts earlier in the year and has committed to launching three more satellites in 2023. Specific dates for these launches have not been disclosed. The statement also criticized recent remarks by Stephen Whiting, commander of the U.S. Space Command, who said North Korea's satellite launches violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. North Korea denounced these accusations as reflective of a double standard by the U.S. and reiterated its right to use space for national defense purposes.