North Korea vows to become a "space technology power"

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on May 3 that the country's leader Kim Jong-un had just visited a newly built satellite command and control center and declared that North Korea would continue to develop space technology despite international sanctions.

The center is under the National Space Development Agency.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the North Korean army. Source: AFP/VNA

KCNA did not specify when the visit took place, but quoted leader Kim Jong-un as saying during his visit to the center that developing space for peaceful purposes was a “choice of the party and people of the DPRK and a legitimate right” of the country.

"North Korea's status as a satellite-producing and -launching country remains unchanged despite the hostile forces' refusal to accept it, and the country's efforts to develop space (technology) will never be abandoned no matter who opposes it," he stressed.

Kim Jong-un also praised North Korea's previous leader and his father, Kim Jong-Il, for "opening a new chapter in space (technology) development and carrying out the greatest event of launching a satellite in the 5,000-year history of the Korean nation."

The news agency also quoted Mr. Kim Jong-un as declaring that North Korea will continue its efforts to become a space technology power, while emphasizing the need to provide more cutting-edge equipment to the center and build a facility with space-like conditions to test satellites.

KCNA news also said that inside the center is a main room that allows experts to directly observe satellite launches, a secondary screen and control room, an optical observation room that meets scientific and technological requirements, and a room for visitors to observe satellite launches.

According to Vietnam+