North Korean leader hints at launching more satellites - or missiles

By Choi Sung-jin

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for the promotion and strengthening of international trust and cooperation in the peaceful research of space science and satellite launches, a state news organ said.

Kim made these and other points during an awards ceremony in Pyongyang Wednesday for officials who contributed to the launch of the “Kwangmyeongseong 4” satellite, the (North) Korean Central News Agency reported. Analysts in Seoul said Kim’s remarks reaffirmed his intention to fire additional long-range missiles.

“The advance to vast space is our strategic goal,” Kim was quoted as saying. “We should step up efforts for space development projects according to our five-year plan with renewed vigor, by launching working satellites more frequently, more rapidly and more satisfyingly.”

Experts said, however, Kim’s address appears aimed at swiftly coping with the moves of the international community to toughen sanctions on the reclusive regime in the wake of the recent missile launch, as well as setting the scene for more launches.

Despite Kim’s stress on international trust and cooperation, the International Telecommunication Union has sent a warning to North Korea for failing to provide the frequency and other information about the satellite put into orbit in a widely condemned rocket launch.

“We are extremely concerned and alarmed that Pyongyang has provided no information,” the ITU said in a letter to the North’s posts and telecommunications minister, Kim Kwang-chol, on Monday.