AFP: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister said yesterday that Pyongyang would “correctly” place a spy satellite into orbit soon, a day after their first attempt crashed.
Pyongyang has pitched its military satellite as a necessary counterbalance to the growing US military presence in the region, pointing to Washington’s ongoing joint drills with Seoul as one example of many.North Korea’s new Chollima-1 rocket lost thrust and plunged into the sea with its satellite payload on Wednesday, state media said in a rare same-day announcement following the failed launch. Kim Yo Jong, who also serves as a spokesperson for the regime, said a second attempt would soon be made. “It is certain that the DPRK’s military reconnaissance satellite will be correctly put on space orbit in the near future and start its mission,” she said yesterday, referring to North Korea by its official name.