North Korea Confirms Its Right to Explore Space

SadaNews - North Korea confirmed today (Friday) its legal right to explore outer space, coinciding with the third anniversary of the review of the space development law that expanded its mission to include defensive capabilities.

Jang Sung-chul, dean of Kim Il-sung University, emphasized this point in an article published by the state-run "Korean Central News Agency," recalling the parliamentary review of the outer space development law in 2022.

Jang explained that this review laid the legal foundation to accelerate the pace of the outer space industry, committing to support the country's right to explore space by nurturing more talent in the field of space law, according to the South Korean news agency "Yonhap."

He added that North Korea has made efforts in research and education regarding space law, seeking to "align national space development with international and local laws" and "fully maintain its legal right to become a major space power."

In November 2023, North Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite and pledged to launch three more spy satellites by 2024. However, these plans have not materialized, as its attempt to launch a satellite in May of last year failed.