SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Top North Korean officials vowed to push for a second attempt to launch a spy satellite, as they described their country’s first and failed launch last month as “the most serious” shortcoming this year and slammed those responsible , state media reported on Monday.
In late May, a North Korean missile carrying a military reconnaissance satellite crashed shortly after launch, setting back Kim Jong Un’s efforts to acquire a space-based surveillance system to better monitor the United States and South Korea.
The failed launch and North Korea’s efforts to modernize its weapon arsenals were discussed at length at a three-day ruling party meeting that ended Sunday, attended by Kim and other top officials.
A detailed report on the meeting by Korea’s Central News Agency did not clearly say who was speaking, but a report to the meeting said that “officials who irresponsibly carried out the preparations for the satellite launch were bitterly criticized.”
The report outlines tasks for officials and scientists to learn the lessons from the failed launch, figure out what caused the rocket to crash, and conduct a successful launch in a short period of time, KCNA said.
It didn’t say exactly when North Korea might attempt a second launch. But South Korea’s spy service previously told lawmakers it was likely to be “more than several weeks” before North Korea could determine what went wrong in the failed launch.
North Korean monitoring groups have not reported any purges or firings of scientists or others involved in the failed launch.
A spy satellite is among several high-tech military assets Kim has publicly vowed to acquire to deal with what he calls US-led hostility. Other weapon systems Kim would like to own include a missile with multiple warheads, a nuclear submarine, a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, and a hypersonic missile.
Since early 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests, some related to the development of a spy satellite and other powerful weapons that were on Kim’s wish list.
During the meeting, Politburo members also analyzed the “extremely deteriorating security situation” in the region caused by the “reckless acts of war” by North Korean rivals, the report said, which appears to relate to expanded military exercises between the US and South Korea related
The United States and South Korea have stepped up military drills in response to the advance of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, warning that any attempt to use nuclear weapons would mean the end of Kim’s government.
Politburo members identified unspecified “important tasks” to strengthen solidarity with countries “opposed to the US predatory strategy for world domination,” KCNA said.
North Korea has pushed to strengthen ties with Russia, including by defending its military operation in Ukraine. It states that Russia is protecting itself against the “hegemonic politics” of the West.
The North has also sought to expand ties with China, its key ally and economic lifeline, which is mired in an intensifying strategic rivalry with the United States over trade, technology and regional influence.
Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto powers, have repeatedly blocked attempts by the US and others to tighten UN sanctions on North Korea over its missile tests.
The party meeting also discussed efforts to improve North Korea’s struggling economy, which experts say has been further weighed down by pandemic-related border closures.
KCNA said there was some progress in efforts to increase agricultural production and revive production in the metals and chemical industries, but acknowledged unspecified shortcomings. KCNA announced construction progress, citing a project to build tens of thousands of new homes in the capital, Pyongyang.
It is virtually impossible to verify the claims of the North, one of the world’s most secretive countries. Experts say there is no sign of social unrest or famine in North Korea despite the hardships caused by the pandemic.
KCNA did not say whether Kim spoke during the plenary session of the Labor Party Central Committee.
Koo Byoungsam, spokesman for South Korea’s unification ministry, said it would be highly unusual for Kim to attend such a high-profile party meeting without a public speech. Koo said the apparent lack of a Kim speech could be due to the failure of the satellite launch and North Korea’s lack of economic success.