SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea has carried out “another important test” towards the development of a reconnaissance satellite, state media said Sunday, just days before South Korea elects a new president.
From hypersonic to medium-range ballistic missiles, Pyongyang test-fired a string of weaponry in January and last week launched what it said was a component of a “reconnaissance satellite” -- although Seoul described it as another ballistic missile.
North Korea is under biting international sanctions for its nuclear weapons programs.
The development of a military reconnaissance satellite -- along with the hypersonic weapons tested in January -- is officially one of Pyongyang’s key defense projects, as outlined by leader Kim Jong Un last year.
“The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite,” KCNA news agency said, using the acronyms of the North’s official name.
“Through the test, the NADA confirmed the reliability of data transmission and reception system of the satellite, its control command system and various ground-based control systems,” it added.
South Korea said Saturday that it believed the test -- which came just days before the country votes to elect a new president on Wednesday -- was a ballistic missile launch.
South Korea’s military said the North Korean missile reached a height of about 560 km (350 miles) and flew 270 km (170 miles).
The North has vowed to strengthen its nuclear “war deterrent” and build more powerful weapons.
Last year, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un announced a new five-year plan for developing weapons and issued an ambitious wish list that included hypersonic weapons, spy satellites, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched nuclear missiles.
Kim has concentrated on expanding his country’s nuclear and missile capabilities since his diplomacy with former United States’ President Donald Trump ended without an agreement in 2019.
Trump took unprecedented steps towards apparently fraternizing the North by initiating several rounds of dialogue with it and even walking a number of steps into the country alongside North Korea’s leader.
However, Washington blew what Pyongyang called a “golden opportunity” at mending the situation by insisting too much on the North’s denuclearization.
Despite its insistence on North Korea’s denuclearization, Washington has fiercely refused to reciprocate by downgrading its massive military presence and activities in the Korean Peninsula.
Pyongyang has rebuffed the administration of Trump’s successor Joe Biden’s repeated offers of nuclear negotiations.