North Korea says advance notice of its satellite launches is “no longer necessary,” hitting out after international criticism of Pyongyang’s recent attempt to put a spy satellite in orbit.
The dispatch, published via the official Korean Central News Agency, comes after North Korea notified the International Maritime Organization of its plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11. After a failed launch last week, the country promised to revive efforts soon, drawing condemnation from the US, Japan and South Korea.
“As IMO responded to the DPRK’s advance notice on its satellite launch with the adoption of an anti-DPRK ‘resolution,’ we will regard this as its official manifestation of stand that the DPRK’s advance notice is no longer necessary,” according to the commentary written by an international affairs analyst, Kim Myong Chol, referring to North Korea by its formal name.
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said in a separate statement carried by KCNA that Pyongyang’s military reconnaissance satellite is no different from the thousands put in orbit by other nations. There was no reason for the countries to stand up against North Korea or be concerned about its satellite, she said.
“I’d like to make it clear once again that the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite by the DPRK is a legal countermeasure to cope with the US and its vassal forces’ military threats that have already crossed the red line, and an exercise of the right to self defense aimed at safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Kim said.
Last week, she warned no country can deny Pyongyang’s right to put a spy satellite into space and vowed to put one in orbit soon following last Wednesday’s failed launch. North Korea’s rocket crashed into the Yellow Sea after losing propulsion in the second stage of the ascent, according to KCNA.
The US and its allies South Korea and Japan on Saturday agreed to link up real-time “warning data” on North Korean missiles within this year, to further enhance the level of security cooperation among the three countries.
