N. Korea asserts rights to space exploration

This photo shows North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, being launched at a launch site in North Pyongan Province, Nov. 21, 2023. Captured from the Korean Central Television

North Korea on Friday asserted its legal right to explore outer space as it marked the third anniversary of a revision to its space development law that expanded its mission to defense capabilities.

Jang Song-chol, dean at Kim Il Sung University, made the point in an article published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), recalling the parliamentary revision of the outer space development law in 2022.

Jang said the revision laid the legal foundation for accelerating the outer space industry, vowing to uphold the country's right to space exploration by nurturing more talent in the space law sector.

He said North Korea has made efforts in research and education on space law in a bid to "align national space development with international and domestic laws" and to "completely uphold its legal right to become a space powerhouse."

In November 2023, North Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit and pledged to launch three more spy satellites by 2024. However, these plans did not materialize, as North Korea's attempt to launch one in May last year failed.