North Korea’s First Spy Satellite Ready To Launch, Kim Jong Un Claims

(Photo : SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un looks at his document at a signing ceremony with US President Donald Trump (not pictured) during their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018.

According to the state media, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that the first-ever spy satellite of the country is now ready for launch.

The dictator reportedly ordered the officials in the country to proceed with the launch of the spy satellite, citing "threats" from the United States (US) and South Korea, the state-run KCNA news reports.

Kim Jong Un: North Korea's First Spy Satellite Ready to Launch

According to CNN, North Korea claimed it was already performing the "important final stage test" before launching its first spy satellite." Back then, the space development agency in the country, their counterpart for NASA, said that their military reconnaissance satellite should be ready for launch sometime in April 2023.

Now, the Supreme Leader has reportedly asked officials in the country to continue with the launch, confirming that the spy satellite is ready for take off. Kim claims "the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1" has been completed.

The state-run news agency reported that Kim visited the National Aerospace Development Administration on Tuesday. And during this trip to the space agency, he revealed that the development of the first spy satellite in the country had concluded. And with that, the North Korean leader has reportedly ordered the officials in the country to launch "several reconnaissance satellites."

However, Aljazeera notes that the North Korean leader did not specify the launch date of its first spy satellite. Pyongyang-run media showed a photo of the Supreme Leader during his visit to the space agency while he was talking to the official in the country.

Kim Jong Un's backdrop appears to be the new spy satellite, but the state-run media censored it. The dictator's daughter was with him when he announced the latest development in the country's first reconnaissance satellite.

North Korea Kim Jong Un

(Photo : STR/AFP via Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 16, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) inspecting a launching drill of the medium-and-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 at an undisclosed location.

Kim Jong Un Cites 'Threat' From US, South Korea

In a speech during his visit, Kim highlights the importance of military satellites to help protect the national safety of the country, as well as its stability, according to CNN's report. He further says the spy satellite should guard them against "threats" and challenges from the US and its neighbor South Korea.

The Korean leader notes that the development of the military spy satellite is "indispensable" due to "prospective threats" on the Korean Peninsula. WSBTV reports that the dictator dubbed these "threats" "the most hostile rhetoric and explicit action" from the US and South Korea. The two countries are currently conducting joint military drills.

Kim argues that "it is natural for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to develop its military deterrence strong enough to cope with the serious security environment."