North Korea wants to expand its military capabilities to observe the United States from space and launch three more reconnaissance satellites next year. At the end of a multi-day end-of-year meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party, ruler Kim Jong Un also emphasized the goals of strengthening defense capacities, including nuclear armament and the construction of military drones, state media reported. The leader of the one-party state once again accused the USA of threatening his country with nuclear weapons.
North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world. It is subject to tough international measures because of its nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang considers the USA and South Korea to be enemies.
“Because of the enemies’ ruthless measures to invade our country, it is a fait accompli that a war may break out on the Korean Peninsula at any time,” Kim was quoted as saying. The military must prepare to “pacify the entire territory of South Korea,” if necessary with nuclear weapons in the event of an attack.
The launch of North Korea’s first spy satellite in November was hailed as a success in the state media. At the party meeting it was declared the task of launching three more satellites into space in 2024. The USA and its partners South Korea, Japan and Australia imposed new sanctions on North Korea because of the satellite launch. They accused Pyongyang of using technology related to its intercontinental ballistic missile program. North Korea had already announced after the launch that it wanted to put more satellites into space.
