World

Seoul [South Korea], May 29: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a statement after the country's attempt to launch a new spy satellite failed.
KCNA news agency today reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced that space reconnaissance capabilities play a very important role in defending the country against threats from enemies and Pyongyang. will never give up the fight to possess this ability.
"Owning military reconnaissance satellites is an important task to strengthen national self-defense deterrence and protect national sovereignty and security from potential threats... due to provocations and acts of terrorism." US military action," Mr. Kim Jong-un emphasized.
Mr. Kim made the above statement during a visit to the Academy of Defense Sciences in Pyongyang on May 28, after North Korea 's attempt to launch a spy satellite on the evening of May 27 failed due to the first booster stage of the satellite-carrying rocket. The planet exploded in flight.
"The launch of a reconnaissance satellite this time did not achieve its goal, but we will not be discouraged or scared by this failure but will increase our efforts. Through this failure, we will learn more. and go further," Mr. Kim emphasized.
Despite the failure, experts say North Korea's latest satellite launch showed new advances in Pyongyang's space race, with the use of new engines running on liquid oxygen and oil, according to Reuters.
One expert said the design showed Russia may have helped build the missile and called it a "huge leap." Pyongyang and Moscow have significantly increased military cooperation since the summit between leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2023, according to Reuters.
In November 2023, North Korea successfully launched a spy satellite into orbit after two previous failed attempts, likely using a launch system that Pyongyang developed for intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBM).
Also according to KCNA, Mr. Kim Jong-un made the above new statement to scientists and engineers of the Academy of Defense Sciences on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its founding. The academy is the key military agency running North Korea's missile program.
The satellite launch on the evening of May 27 was carried out by a separate agency in charge of the aerospace program, according to KCNA.
Mr. Kim criticized South Korea for condemning the North's new satellite launch, and warned that Seoul was "playing with fire" by showing off its strength and conducting military exercises involving fighter jets. .
Hours after North Korea's satellite-carrying missile launch on the evening of May 27, South Korea deployed fighter jets, including F-35 stealth fighter jets, to conduct "attack exercises". attack" to show off strength.
South Korean and US warplanes are conducting separate exercises this week in a hot spot near the western sea border between the two Koreas, according to Reuters.
There is currently no information on the reaction of the US or South Korea to Mr. Kim Jong-un's new statement.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper