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North Korea’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Dec. 19 that National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) announced plans to “finish the preparations for the first military reconnaissance satellite by April 2023.” (KCNA/Yonhap)

North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported Monday that the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) announced plans to finish the preparations for its first military reconnaissance satellite by April 2023.

The news seems like an advance notice signaling that North Korea may launch its first military reconnaissance satellite as early as next year, possibly on April 15 — the anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s birth — or April 25, the founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army.

If the North does go through with the launch, however, it would be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, which prohibit North Korea from launching any device using ballistic missile technology. In addition, such a launch would lead to further confrontations and likely further escalate the ongoing conflict between South Korea and the US vs. North Korea

According to the North Korean paper, the country’s NADA “conducted an important final-stage test for the development of reconnaissance satellite at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground [Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province] on December 18.”

The article went on to explain the test process in detail.

“The test was conducted in the mode of evaluating the processing capability and stability of data transmission devices while verifying the reliability of ground control system including photography control command and attitude control command for various kinds of cameras in the optimum environment simulating space environment after high-angle launch of a test-piece satellite into the altitude of 500km with one panchromatic camera for 20m resolution test, two multispectral cameras, video transmitter and transmitters and receivers of various bands, control devices and batteries.”

North Korea’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Dec. 19 that National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) announced plans to “finish the preparations for the first military reconnaissance satellite by April 2023.” (KCNA/Yonhap)

Meanwhile, two satellite photos of Seoul and Incheon were also released with the article.

In addition, the paper said Sunday’s test was “an important success which has gone through the final gateway process of the launch of reconnaissance satellite.” The article also stated that the results of this test were “immediately reported to the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea.”

In other words, the article confirms that the medium-range ballistic missile launched the previous day was aimed at testing a reconnaissance satellite.

Although the paper didn’t mention whether Kim Jong-un was present at the launch site, the country’s leader did label the “operation of military reconnaissance satellites in the near future” as a “most important” research project during a speech he gave at a party congress in January 2021.

This could mean that Kim may plan on revealing more details about his country’s development of reconnaissance satellites at the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the WPK, which is scheduled to be held later this month.

Regarding these recent developments said at a press conference Monday that “there is no change in the evaluation of South Korean and US intelligence authorities that what North Korea launched yesterday [Dec. 18] was a medium-range ballistic missile.”

Meanwhile, Cho Joong-hoon, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said the ministry “strongly condemns” the missile launch, which he called “a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions” and “a significant provocation that raises tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threatens peace and security in the region.”

According to one former high-level government official, North Korea is unlikely to suggest diplomacy and negotiations first as long as the South Korea-US policy line remains the same.

“In order to prevent accidental military clashes between South and North, right now, the government must eke out an approach by doing everything it can regarding its responsibility to manage peace,” the official said.

By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

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