Seoul, South Korea –
North Korea’s powerful sister Kim Jong Un on Thursday accused the United States of “gangster-like” hypocrisy by criticizing the country’s failed launch of a military spy satellite and insisting that North Korea will soon follow with a successful launch.
Kim Yo Jong said North Korea’s efforts to achieve a space-based reconnaissance capability were a legitimate act of its sovereign rights and reiterated its rejection of Security Council resolutions. The United Nations prohibits the country from conducting any launches involving ballistic missile technology.
Her comments in state media came a day after a North Korean long-range rocket carrying the country’s first spy satellite developed lost thrust after separating from stage and crashing. waters off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula.
After conceding an unusually quick defeat, North Korea vowed to conduct a second launch as soon as it was determined what happened as leader Kim Jong Un pushed to expand its military capabilities. in the context of a prolonged freeze in diplomacy with the United States.
The North Korean launch was quickly criticized by Washington and its allies Seoul and Tokyo. Adam Hodge, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said in a statement that Washington strongly condemns North Korea’s launch because it uses banned ballistic missile technology, increasing tension and the risk of causing instability in and out of the region.
In his statement, Kim Yo Jong briefly addressed Hodge’s comments before saying that the US “is letting loose a nonsense word motivated by its extravagance and irregularity.”
“If North Korea’s satellite launch deserves special criticism, then the United States and all other countries, which have launched thousands of satellites, should be condemned. This is nothing but a fallacy of the DPRK. self-contradiction,” she said, using the initials of the North Korean name. The official name is Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
She noted how the United States closely monitors North Korea through its own spy satellites and other aerial devices, calling the Americans “a gang of gangsters” who would view North Korea’s attempt to Attempting to send a satellite into space is “illegal and threatening”. balloon.
“The far-fetched argument that only North Korea should not be allowed to do so under the ‘resolution’ of the (United Nations Security Council) prohibits the use of ballistic missile technology regardless of its purpose, even though the other countries are doing the same, she clearly says:
She added: “It is certain that the North Korean military spy satellite will be put into space orbit in the near future and begin to perform its mission.”
Citing what she described as US hostility towards the North, Kim reiterated Pyongyang’s stance that it currently has no intention of re-engaging in talks with Washington, which have been deadlocked. since 2019 because of disagreements over US-led sanctions imposed on the North’s nuclear weapons. and missile program.
Wednesday’s launch extended a provocation in North Korea’s military protests, including test-fires of about 100 missiles since early 2022, underscoring Kim Jong Un’s efforts to achieve gain the dual ability to launch nuclear strikes on both the continental United States and South Korea to increase pressure on its adversaries.
Wednesday’s failed launch has raised concerns about security in South Korea and Japan, where residents in some areas were advised to evacuate immediately after the launch. The South Korean military later recovered an object believed to be part of a North Korean missile in waters 200 kilometers southwest of Eocheongdo island and plans to analyze the technology.
The military spy satellite is one of several high-tech weapons systems that Kim has openly vowed to develop to bolster his nuclear deterrent in the face of US sanctions and pressure. . Other weapons on his wish list include multi-warhead missiles, nuclear submarines, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and hypersonic missiles.
During a visit to the space agency last month, Kim stressed the strategic importance of a spy satellite in North Korea’s confrontation with the United States and South Korea, which are expanding their military exercises. joint efforts to deal with North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal.
The United Nations Security Council has imposed economic sanctions on North Korea for its previous ballistic missile and satellite launches, but it has failed to punish North Korea for its actions. recent tests. The council’s permanent members China and Russia have repeatedly rejected US-led efforts to increase sanctions on Pyongyang, underscoring the deepening divisions over Russia’s war with Ukraine.
