DPRK says it conducted test to develop reconnaissance satellite

People watch a TV showing a file image of DPRK's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, Republic of Korea Jan 30, 2022. (AHN YOUNG-JOON / AP)

SEOUL – The Democratic People's Republic of Korea said a test conducted on Sunday was for the development of a reconnaissance satellite system, state news agency KCNA reported on Monday, a day after a missile launch was detected from the country.

KCNA's report did not elaborate on what type of rocket had been used in the test, but authorities in the Republic of Korea and Seoul said it appeared to be a ballistic missile fired from an area near Pyongyang where its international airport is located.

Sunday's test helped to confirm the working accuracy of a high definition photographing system, data transmission system and attitude control devices by "conducting vertical and oblique photographing of a specific area on earth" with cameras to be loaded on the reconnaissance satellite, KCNA reported

The launch was the eighth test this year, and the first since January when the DPRK fired off a record number of missiles.

Sunday's test helped to confirm the working accuracy of a high definition photographing system, data transmission system and attitude control devices by "conducting vertical and oblique photographing of a specific area on earth" with cameras to be loaded on the reconnaissance satellite, KCNA reported.

"The test is of great significance in developing the reconnaissance satellite," the report reads.

State media released two photos showing the Korean peninsula seen from space.

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Similar photos were released after the last missile test, on Jan 30, which featured a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile with a camera fitted in its nose cone.

Developing a military reconnaissance satellite is among a number of advancements leader Kim Jong-un called for last year, including recently tested hypersonic weapons.

The DPRK's push to develop such technology comes as the ROK plans to test a solid-fuel space projectile in March as part of a project to deploy its own military surveillance satellites to monitor the DPRK, according to the ROK's Yonhap news agency.

The DPRK rocket fired on Sunday flew to a maximum altitude of around 620 km and a range of about 300 km, the ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

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The DPRK has previously successfully placed at least two satellites in orbit, the last one in 2016.