North Korea said on Monday, December 19, 2022 that it fired a test satellite in a final-stage test for the development of its first spy satellite, a key military capability long sought-after by its leader Kim Jong Un.

The country’s National Aerospace Development Administration called the test results “an important success which has gone through the final gateway process of the launch of reconnaissance satellite.”

On Sunday, December 18, 2022, South Korea, Japan and U.S. authorities stated that they had detected a pair of ballistic missile launches by North Korea from its northwestern Tongchang-ri area, where the North’s satellite launch pad is located.

The authorities said the two missiles flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) at a maximum altitude of 550 kilometers (340 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Geon Ha Gyu, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Defense Ministry, disclosed that the South Korean and U.S. assessments that North Korea fired the two medium-range ballistic missiles remain unchanged.

Geon Ha Gyu noted that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were analyzing further details of the launches but declined to elaborate.

A spy satellite was on a wish list of sophisticated military assets that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un announced during a ruling party meeting early last year, together with multi-warhead missiles, solid-fueled long-range missiles, underwater-launched nuclear missiles and nuclear-powered submarines.

Kim has called for such modern weapons systems and an expanded nuclear arsenal to pressure the United States to abandon its hostile polices on North Korea.

North Korea has since taken steps to develop such weapons systems. In February and March, North Korea said it conducted tests to check a camera and data transmission systems to be used on a spy satellite.

In November, it test-launched its developmental, longest-range Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon believed to be designed to carry multiple warheads.

Last week, North Korea said it performed a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor” to be used for a new strategic weapon.

Earlier this year, North Korea test-launched a record number of missiles, many of them nuclear-capable missiles with varying ranges to reach the U.S. mainland and its allies South Korea and Japan.

It also legislated a law authorizing the preemptive use of nuclear weapons.

North Korea Evades UN Sanctions

North Korea has avoided fresh U.N. sanctions for those moves because U.N. Security Council permanent members, Russia and China won’t support U.S. attempts to impose these sanctions.

“Having codified his country’s nuclear law earlier this year, tested missiles of varying capabilities, and made it very clear he has no interest in diplomacy with the U.S. and South Korea, Kim has essentially paved the way for nuclearization.”
Soo Kim

“He’s lent the appearance that the only possible way out of this quagmire is for the international community to fold the conditions set forth by the regime,” Soo Kim, the analyst, iterated.

Soo Kim disclosed that a handful of other high-priority geopolitical concerns involving China and Russia “has allowed Kim to buy time and the grace of the international community to push forward with his plan.”