North Korea's Reconnaissance Satellite Operations Office has begun operating as an independent military intelligence organization.
North Korea's reconnaissance satellite operation office, located at the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA), began carrying out the mission on December 2, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA) reported on December 3.
"Information obtained through this mission will be reported to the relevant standing executive organ of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea and, according to instructions, will be provided to major units designated as war deterrent forces of the state and the Reconnaissance General Bureau of the Korean People's Army," according to KCNA.
North Korea announced the successful launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite on November 21. Pyongyang later said the satellite took pictures of US military bases, the White House, the Pentagon and “target areas” in South Korea, but has yet to release any images.
South Korean people watch a news report on North Korea's satellite launch at a train station in Seoul on November 22. Photo: AFP
The United States and its allies have condemned North Korea's satellite launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from conducting any launches using ballistic technology, such as satellite launches and missile tests. The United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia on December 1 imposed additional sanctions on North Korea over the satellite launch.
In a December 3 KCNA article, an anonymous North Korean military commentator said that South Korea had broken the military confidence-building agreement between the two countries and that North Korea's launch of a reconnaissance satellite was similar to what many countries have done.
The commentator also said that South Korea's recent launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite had revealed its own contradiction.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched South Korea's first reconnaissance satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on December 1. South Korea has signed a contract with the US company to launch five reconnaissance satellites by 2025 to accelerate its goal of 24-hour surveillance of the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea said last month it would deploy more powerful forces and new weapons to its border with South Korea, after Seoul suspended part of a 2018 military pact between the two countries in protest at Pyongyang's satellite launch.
Huyen Le (According to KCNA , Reuters )
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