After 2 Failed Times, KCNA Calls North Korea's Reconnaissance Satellite Operations Agencies Starting Its Mission

North Korean spy satellite launch. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - The agency tasked with operating North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite has begun its mission according to the country's official news agency, KCNA, today. North Korea managed to put the reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, into orbit on November 21 after failing in the previous two attempts. North Korea said that the refinement process on the satellite was ongoing and Malligyong-1 would begin its official mission on December 1. "The reconnaissance satellite operation agency, managed at the Pyongyang National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) General Control Center, began its mission on December 2," said KCNA as quoted by Yonhap-OANA, Sunday, December 3. The agency will also carry out its mission as an independent military intelligence organization. KCNA said that information obtained through the mission would be reported to "the relevant permanent executive department at the Military Central Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea and... offered to major units deemed to be the prevention of state war and the General Reconnaisssance Bureau of the Korean People's Army."

KCNA also cited the country's defense ministry as saying "hope that the DPRK's war prevention will take a more perfect military form." The DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.