North Korea stated that Kim Jong Un viewed aerospace images of Anderson Air Force Base, Apra Harbor, and other significant US military bases.
According to reports from the Korean Central News Agency, as cited by Bloomberg, North Korea has recently launched a new spy satellite into orbit. The state’s official media claims that the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has had the opportunity to view images captured by this satellite of various U.S. military facilities located in Guam.
The images reportedly include aerial views of Anderson Air Force Base, Apra Harbor, and other significant military bases of the U.S. forces. These photos were allegedly taken while the satellite was in the sky above Guam.
North Korea has notified Japan of a plan to launch a rocket carrying a space satellite between Nov. 22 and Dec. 1, which would be the third attempt by Pyongyang to put a military spy satellite in orbit after two failures this year. https://t.co/Q9JLVx5jol https://t.co/Q9JLVx5jol
— Reuters Science News (@ReutersScience) November 22, 2023
This development comes after North Korea launched a rocket into space, an event that was closely monitored by the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.
The launch and the subsequent claims by North Korea have drawn international attention and raised questions about the country’s capabilities and intentions in the realm of space technology and military surveillance.
As of now, there has been no official confirmation from any country regarding the deployment or operational status of the satellite that North Korea claims to have launched. Officials and experts globally are in the process of independently verifying these assertions made by North Korea.
This recent development is particularly noteworthy given North Korea’s history of satellite launches. The country had previously made two attempts to launch satellites, both of which were unsuccessful. In a rare admission of failure, the authorities in Pyongyang had promptly acknowledged that these attempts did not go as planned.
They explained that the satellites encountered engine issues shortly after takeoff, which resulted in them falling into the sea.
In a significant departure from its past attempts, North Korea has announced what it claims to be a successful launch of its new satellite, named “Malligyong-1”.
The country has stated that the satellite will officially commence this mission from December 1. However, before it begins its task, some fine-tuning is required, as per the North Korean authorities.
As reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un has expressed the need for a comprehensive network of spy satellites. He believes that such a system is essential for closely observing the military activities of what he refers to as the “US imperialists and their vassal armies.”
The meeting between Pres. Vladimir Putin and dictator Kim Jong Un signals a new era for the leaders — as Russia looks to restock its waning ammunition supplies and North Korea looks for an ally in its spy satellite program. https://t.co/LUN2FErHIB pic.twitter.com/zL2d7G6xOK
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) September 13, 2023
The authorities in Seoul have expressed their perspective on North Korea’s spy satellite. They hold the belief that the satellite, while not being of an advanced or expert level, could still prove to be a significant asset for North Korea. The reason for this is that the satellite could potentially aid North Korea in gaining a better understanding of specific targets.
This is particularly concerning given that North Korea has been actively designing missiles with the capability to deliver nuclear strikes. The primary areas of concern are South Korea and Japan, which are within the range of these missiles.
In a significant development that occurred earlier this month, North Korea conducted tests on new engines designed specifically for intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
The successful testing of these new engines could potentially increase the range, accuracy, and payload capacity of North Korea’s intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
Hong Min, who holds the position of a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, provided some insightful commentary on the matter. He emphasized that evaluating the success of this launch involves a multi-faceted approach.
Firstly, it is essential to ascertain whether the projectile has successfully entered its intended orbit. However, according to Min, this is just the starting point of the assessment. Beyond the initial entry into orbit, it is equally important to ensure that there is the capability to make necessary adjustments and carry out reconnaissance activities from that orbit.
North Korea has stated it launched a rocket that was part of their satellite & space program. They also claimed that they took an image of Seoul on Sunday.
They plan to complete the development of a spy satellite by April of 2023. pic.twitter.com/RCgb22meej
— Global: Military-Info (@Global_Mil_Info) December 18, 2022
It should be equipped with the necessary technology to conduct surveillance from its orbit. This typically involves the use of optical cameras that can capture high-resolution images from space. The satellite must also have the capability to transmit these images back to the satellite centre on Earth.
ALSO READ | BRICS and UN Leaders to Convene for Crucial Summit on Israel-Hamas Conflict