North Korea Says It Is in ‘Final Phase’ of Developing New Satellite
Announcement fuels speculation Pyongyang would launch long-range rocket as early as next month North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the General Satellite Control and Command Center at an undisclosed location in the country.
By ALASTAIR GALE
Sept. 15, 2015 12:16 a.m. ET
SEOUL—North Korea said it was in the final phase of developing a new satellite, fueling speculation it would launch a long-range rocket as early as a major political anniversary in October.
Such a move would ratchet up tensions on the peninsula because the United Nations Security Council bans the country from testing ballistic-rocket technology. While Pyongyang says its long-range rocket launches are for peaceful purposes, the U.S. and other countries see them as part of an effort to develop an intercontinental missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.
North Korea celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party on Oct. 10, an event outside observers say may be marked by a long-range rocket firing. South Korea’s foreign minister said last week that a launch is possible, although analysts who have studied recent satellite images say there are no clear signs of preparations for a launch at Pyongyang’s main long-range rocket base.
The director of North Korea’s space agency said scientists are “pushing forward at a final phase [for] the development of a new earth observation satellite,” according to a report published late Monday by Pyongyang’s state news agency. “The world will clearly see a series of satellites…soaring into the sky at the times and locations determined by the WPK Central Committee,” said the director, who wasn’t named, according to the report.
In response to the report, a U.S. State Department spokesman noted that multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions require North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic-missile program.
“Any satellite launch using ballistic missile technology would be a clear violation of those resolutions,” John Kirby said at a regular news briefing.
Kim Min-seok, spokesman for South Korea’s defense ministry, said a satellite launch by North Korea would be considered a ballistic-missile test and would be “a serious act of provocation.”
North Korea successfully tested a long-range rocket in December 2012, delivering an object that it said was a satellite into orbit around the earth. Experts confirmed the presence of the device but failed to pick up any communications signals from it.
Two months later, North Korea staged its third test detonation of a nuclear bomb. U.S. and other government officials see North Korea’s nuclear tests as an effort to produce a weapon small enough to mount on an intercontinental ballistic missile. Senior military figures in Washington believe Pyongyang may have already mastered such technology.
The U.N. Security Council increased sanctions on North Korea in the wake of the latest rocket and nuclear tests, but Pyongyang has pledged to continue launching rockets and building up its nuclear arsenal. During times of military tension, North Korea claims it can hit the continental U.S. with a long-range missile, adding to concerns that the rocket program is intended to give it a new threat.
Write to Alastair Gale at alastair.gale@wsj.com
By ALASTAIR GALE
Sept. 15, 2015 12:16 a.m. ET
SEOUL—North Korea said it was in the final phase of developing a new satellite, fueling speculation it would launch a long-range rocket as early as a major political anniversary in October.
Such a move would ratchet up tensions on the peninsula because the United Nations Security Council bans the country from testing ballistic-rocket technology. While Pyongyang says its long-range rocket launches are for peaceful purposes, the U.S. and other countries see them as part of an effort to develop an intercontinental missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.
North Korea celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party on Oct. 10, an event outside observers say may be marked by a long-range rocket firing. South Korea’s foreign minister said last week that a launch is possible, although analysts who have studied recent satellite images say there are no clear signs of preparations for a launch at Pyongyang’s main long-range rocket base.
The director of North Korea’s space agency said scientists are “pushing forward at a final phase [for] the development of a new earth observation satellite,” according to a report published late Monday by Pyongyang’s state news agency. “The world will clearly see a series of satellites…soaring into the sky at the times and locations determined by the WPK Central Committee,” said the director, who wasn’t named, according to the report.
In response to the report, a U.S. State Department spokesman noted that multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions require North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic-missile program.
“Any satellite launch using ballistic missile technology would be a clear violation of those resolutions,” John Kirby said at a regular news briefing.
Kim Min-seok, spokesman for South Korea’s defense ministry, said a satellite launch by North Korea would be considered a ballistic-missile test and would be “a serious act of provocation.”
North Korea successfully tested a long-range rocket in December 2012, delivering an object that it said was a satellite into orbit around the earth. Experts confirmed the presence of the device but failed to pick up any communications signals from it.
Two months later, North Korea staged its third test detonation of a nuclear bomb. U.S. and other government officials see North Korea’s nuclear tests as an effort to produce a weapon small enough to mount on an intercontinental ballistic missile. Senior military figures in Washington believe Pyongyang may have already mastered such technology.
The U.N. Security Council increased sanctions on North Korea in the wake of the latest rocket and nuclear tests, but Pyongyang has pledged to continue launching rockets and building up its nuclear arsenal. During times of military tension, North Korea claims it can hit the continental U.S. with a long-range missile, adding to concerns that the rocket program is intended to give it a new threat.
Write to Alastair Gale at alastair.gale@wsj.com
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