The Workers' Party of Korea is full of gunpowder and is not satisfied with the State Space Development Administration! The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) recently held the Eighth Plenary Session of its 8th Central Committee in Pyongyang, and the main agenda of the meeting was to summarize the work in the first half of FY2023 and arrange the work plan for the second half of the year. However, what is surprising is that after the meeting, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued a press release for severely criticizing the DPRK's State Space Development Administration, especially for the launch of reconnaissance satellites for which it was responsible. This news has attracted widespread attention and shock. In a press release, KCNA referred to North Korea's failure to launch the Miles-1 military reconnaissance satellite on May 31 using a Maxima-1 carrier rocket, calling it "the most serious mistake."
The press release accused the cadres in charge of advancing the preparations for the launch of the satellite as "irresponsible" and put forward new combat missions. The circular calls on cadres and scientists of relevant departments to profoundly analyze the reasons for the failure of this launch and the lessons learned, and to successfully launch a military reconnaissance satellite as soon as possible, so as to enhance the KPA's reconnaissance and intelligence capability and make a greater leap forward in the field of space development. This incident makes people lament the dissatisfaction of the Korean Central News Agency with the General Administration of Space Development of the DPRK. However, we should note that this reflects General Kim Jong-un's attitude towards the DPRK's National Space Development Administration. Space development has always been an important strategic area for North Korea, especially its military satellite launch program.
General Kim Jong Un and Mr. Kim Yo Jong have repeatedly expressed the importance they attach to the project, and even in May, General Kim Jong Un personally took his daughter to visit the satellite assembly plant. This action shows the high importance they attach to the project. After all, North Korean officials invite General Kim Jong-un to the scene only when an ICBM is launched. The significance of this military reconnaissance satellite launch mission is not only to verify the new launch vehicle system, but also to have political and military implications. The launch mission also played an important role as a gift to the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. It has been learned that the duration of the Eighth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee even took into account the progress of the launch of military reconnaissance satellites, which is one of the reasons why the official date has not been announced.
Therefore, the launch mission had not only military significance, but also political significance. However, it turned out to be a big fireworks failure. This angered General Kim, especially at a time when North Korea's state media had just announced that "2023 will be a year of great change and leap forward in the history of the motherland." Therefore, the most important question facing the DPRK at the moment is how to resolve this failure. From the signs of a "second launch" at the DPRK's Sohae satellite launch site at the beginning of this month to the subsequent withdrawal of personnel and equipment, we can infer that the DPRK may have given up its intention to forcibly launch the satellite before the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee. This also shows that there are some problems with North Korea's satellite-arrow system, and more time is needed to adjust.
As a result, we may not see North Korea's reconnaissance satellite launch mission in the near future. In general, the criticism of the State Space Development Administration of the DPRK by the Korean Central News Agency has attracted widespread attention. The failure has led to questions about the prospects for the development of North Korea's space development and the attitude of the North Korean government. In my opinion, the DPRK should seriously sum up the causes and lessons of this failure and take effective measures to solve the problem. Only in this way will the DPRK be able to make an even greater leap forward in the field of space development. But at the same time, we should also be aware that space development is a complex and arduous task that requires long-term efforts and investment. The DPRK should remain calm and continue its efforts to promote the development of space development.
Finally, I would like to ask a question, how do you think North Korea should respond to this defeat? What are your thoughts on the prospects for space development in North Korea? Please leave your comments.