Kim Jong-un Ends One-Month Hiatus to Inspect Reconnaissance Satellite
May G7, June ROK-US Joint Exercises, July Victory Day
"Likely to Launch at a Time with High Chances of Success"
Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, has approved the 'subsequent action plan' for Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1. After nearly a month of absence, Kim resumed public activities ahead of the upcoming G7 summit to be held in Hiroshima, Japan, on the 19th. At this G7 summit, to which President Yoon Suk-yeol was invited, a trilateral summit between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is scheduled to discuss cooperation measures to respond to the North Korean nuclear threat.
On the 17th, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "Comrade Kim Jong-un guided the emergency satellite launch preparation committee's work on-site on the 16th and approved the committee's subsequent action plan." This comes a month after he visited the National Space Development Bureau on the 18th of last month and instructed, "Complete the final preparations so that the (military reconnaissance satellite) can be launched within the planned schedule."
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un was reported by the Korean Central News Agency on the 17th to have provided on-site guidance for the Reconnaissance Satellite Launch Preparation Committee project.
According to the report, Chairman Kim inspected Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1, which has completed the final checks of the assembled state and space environment tests and is now 'ready for payload integration.' At the site, he emphasized the strategic nature of possessing a military reconnaissance satellite, stating, "The more the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet villains' anti-Republic confrontational provocations become frenzied and aggravated, the more our sovereignty and legitimate right to self-defense to thoroughly suppress these and protect the nation will be exercised more confidently and offensively." In particular, Kim said, "Successfully launching the military reconnaissance satellite is an urgent demand arising from the established national security environment." This is interpreted as emphasizing the 'self-defensive nature' of North Korea's military measures, including reconnaissance satellites.
Kim's public activity comes a month after he declared the 'completion of production' of the reconnaissance satellite during his visit to the National Space Development Bureau on the 18th of last month. North Korea claimed that the medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) launched in December last year was a 'satellite test item' and vowed to complete preparations for Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1 by April this year. According to North Korean media reports, Satellite No. 1 was completed last month and is currently in a state of 'ready for payload integration.' Accordingly, the 'subsequent action plan' approved by Kim is expected to involve loading the satellite onto the launch vehicle and launching it soon.
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un was reported by the Korean Central News Agency on the 17th to have provided on-site guidance for the Reconnaissance Satellite Launch Preparation Committee project. The red circle contains Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae.
The timing of Kim ending his disappearance is also considered exquisite. President Yoon will attend the G7 summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, from the 19th to the 21st of this month, where a trilateral summit between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan will be held to discuss responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. There are forecasts that North Korea may provoke during the G7 period or aim for the timing of the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises next month by launching reconnaissance satellites or intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Additional provocations are also anticipated around July 27, the Victory Day (commemorating the Korean War armistice agreement), a political anniversary in North Korea.
Professor Kim Dong-yeop of the Graduate School for North Korean Studies said, "Preparations necessary for payload integration have been completed, and the next step following the approval of the subsequent action plan is expected to be mounting the satellite inside the satellite protection cover at the top of the launch vehicle." He analyzed, "Launching during the G7 period, which is only a few days away, is inappropriate, and to emphasize that it is a legitimate satellite launch, North Korea is expected to notify international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and launch after June."
Professor Im Eul-chul of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University said, "Kim Jong-un's disappearance over the past month is likely related to preparations for the reconnaissance satellite launch, and adjusting the launch timing seems aimed at maximizing the chances of success." He added, "Considering the expressions that the final assembly inspection and payload integration preparations have been completed, it is presumed to be in a 'standby' state, and there is a possibility of launching in the near future."
Meanwhile, photos released by North Korean media on the day show that Kim Jong-un's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, accompanied him during this on-site guidance. In the photos, Kim Jong-un and Kim Ju-ae are wearing white gowns and caps that appear to be laboratory coats. While researchers and officials wore blue gowns and masks, the two did not wear masks. A red control line surrounds an object presumed to be the actual satellite, which Kim Jong-un is seen observing.
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