Satellite launch may be in future as North plans to 'conquer space'

Footage from a documentary aired in October by the North's Korean Central Television, which covered the country's successful launch of the Kwangmyongsong No. 4 earth observation satellite. [YONHAP]

Speculation is mounting that North Korea is preparing a satellite launch, following reports on Monday by state media that the country is determined to "conquer space."

Yun Sun-yong, a member of the North’s National Science and Technology Commission, emphasized the country’s will to “conquer space” during a Monday radio broadcast aired by the state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Committee to mark the sixth anniversary of the launch of the Kwangmyongsong No. 4, an earth observation satellite the North launched in February 2016.

“The path to conquer space will be continued today and tomorrow, and the heroic legend of juche Korea, which astounds the world, will be created anew continuously.”

Juche, a mantra which roughly translates to self-reliance, refers to the guiding political ideology devised by the regime’s founder Kim Il Sung and is enshrined in the country’s constitution.

The Kwangmyongsong No. 4 was the second satellite launched successfully into orbit by the North, which was then accused by South Korea, Japan and the United States of testing ballistic missile technology necessary for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) under the guise of peaceful satellite launches.

The February 2016 satellite launch came shortly after a Jan. 6 nuclear test by the North and as the United Nations Security Council was contemplating sanctions on the regime.

The launch, which was timed to mark the 74th birthday of current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s father and predecessor, the late Kim Jong-il, was met with condemnation from the Security Council.

Concerns about another potential satellite launch by Pyongyang were brought up Ha Tae-kyeong, a People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker on the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, who said in a committee briefing on Jan. 21 that the regime may test ICBM technology under the guise of a satellite launch from the Dongchang-ri launch site in North Pyongan Province.

While Pyongyang occasionally emphasizes the need to develop its space program through state-run media, the recent radio broadcast suggests that another satellite launch may come just as the regime has drastically ratcheted up international tensions by firing a slew of missiles in the past month.

The North has already conducted seven tests of hypersonic cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and an intermediate range ballistic missile in the new year.

Pyongyang’s state media also carried reports in late January that the ruling Workers’ Party Politburo was contemplating scrapping the regime's self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and longer range missile testing, which has been in place since late 2017.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]