North Korea: Latest missile test part of development of satellite surveillance system

In the midst of the conflict Russia has brought upon Ukraine in its invasion, North Korea continued with its weapons tests. Pyongyang said that its latest weapons test over the weekend was part of its ongoing development of a satellite surveillance system.

North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported that its latest weapons test last Sunday was for its development of a satellite surveillance system. While the outlet did not reveal more details, authorities from South Korea said that what looked like a ballistic missile fired from an area close to the capital of Pyongyang, where the international airport is located.

The latest test marks the eighth launch this year and the first test since January following a record number of missile tests in a single month. The last missile test took place on January 30, where North Korea test-launched its Hwasong-12 ballistic missile that had a camera on its nose cone.

The test over the weekend confirmed the accuracy of its high-definition photographing system, data transmission system, and its altitude control devices. KCNA also released photos that showed a view of the Korean peninsula from space. The recent developments were among the advancements that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for last year, which also included hypersonic weapons.

The move by Pyongyang to make such developments follows reports of South Korea’s plans to test a solid-fuel space projectile in March. This is part of Seoul’s plan to deploy its own military surveillance satellites to monitor North Korea, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

Aside from testing another suspected ballistic missile for its surveillance system, a US think-tank reported back in February that North Korea has completed building a secret base to store missiles. The Hoejung-ni base found in satellite images was found to be close to the border the isolated nation shares with China, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Hoejung-ni base is one of around 20 ballistic missile operating bases in North Korea that the nation has yet to declare, according to the think-tank. Citing sources, CSIS said the base will “house a regiment-sized unit equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles.”