TOKYO, April 1. /TASS/. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is set to push for space development as it plans to launch multiple spy satellites this year, Pak Kyong Su, vice director of North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration, told the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in an interview.

"The successful launch of the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 last year has brought about substantial progress in national defense capabilities and several launches are expected for this year as well," KCNA quoted him as saying in remarks on the anniversary of the North Korean space development agency which was established on April 1, 2013.

According to Pak, developing the space industry is very important for the North in terms of becoming a powerful state. North Korea has been seeking to use satellites in various spheres, including agriculture and disaster prevention, he added.

On November 21, 2023, North Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1. KCNA reported that the spy satellite would become fully operational around December 1. As part of the its testing, the satellite transmitted images of the White House, the Pentagon and some military sites in the United States, South Korea and Japan.

At a meeting of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea in December, the country’s leader Kim Jong Un said announced ambitions to launch three more spy satellites.