[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] North Korea condemned the Japanese government's reconnaissance satellite launch last month as a "dangerous act of self-destruction" on the 4th.
The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in an article posted on its website under the name of "Researcher Cha Hye-kyung from the Japan Research Institute" that "Japan's unprecedented frequency of launching spy satellites is causing strong vigilance and serious concern among neighboring countries," making such claims.
Researcher Cha emphasized, "Japan should not rush down the dangerous path of military expansion that escalates regional tensions, but rather listen to the legitimate demands and warnings of the international community for peace and stability."
He also mentioned, "Since Japan labeled our peaceful artificial earth satellite launch in 1998 as a ballistic missile launch and launched its first spy satellite in 2003, it has continuously conducted hostile reconnaissance activities against our republic."
Earlier, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries successfully launched the 46th H2A rocket carrying the Japanese government's reconnaissance satellite 'Radar No. 7' from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on the 26th of last month. The Japanese government plans to utilize this satellite for monitoring North Korean military facilities and disaster response.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
