Launch of satellite full-fledged exercise of self-defense: North Korea's Kim

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Friday hailed the successful launch of Pyongyang’s military satellite, calling it a “full-fledged exercise of the right to self-defense.”

“The possession of reconnaissance satellite is a full-fledged exercise of the right to self-defense the DPRK armed forces can neither concede even a bit nor stop even a moment as they should firmly defend the security environment, development and interests” of the country, Kim said.

DPRK is the official name of North Korea which stands for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Pyongyang said it successfully launched the satellite early this week on Tuesday night, in North Korea’s third attempt this year. Earlier, it failed twice in May and August.

The launch triggered condemnation by South Korea, Japan, the US and G-7 members. In its joint assessment with Washington and Seoul, Tokyo Friday acknowledged that "some object" launched by North Korea is "orbiting the Earth."

Urging North Korean soldiers to “defend security and happiness of its people,” Kim called on the armed forces to “actively deter, control and manage various kinds and forms of the dangerous and aggressive moves of the hostile forces.”

Accompanied by his daughter, Kim made the remarks during a visit to the National Aerospace Technology Administration where he “warmly congratulated the scientists and technicians in the field of the space scientific research,” Pyongyang-based KCNA reported.

Kim hailed the administration’s staff for “strengthening the self-defense capacity through the successful launch of reconnaissance satellite.”

Following the launch of the satellite, Seoul and Pyongyang scrapped the 2018-signed bilateral military pact.