North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Photo-op With Recon Sat Contributors

Pyongyang, November 24 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, on Thursday had a photo session with the scientists, technicians and officials of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) who made great contributions to making combat-readiness of the DPRK armed forces and strengthening the self-defense capacity through the successful launch of reconnaissance satellite.

The yard of the NATA was filled with joy and excitement of the participants greeting the moment of the highest glory and happiness with the honor and pride of upholding the Party’s cause of modernizing the powerful army with their perfect practice.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was greeted on the spot by Kim Jong Sik, vice department director of the WPK Central Committee and Ryu Sang Hun, general director of the NATA.

When Kim Jong Un arrived with his beloved daughter at the NATA, all the participants broke into stormy cheers, paying the highest tribute and glory to him who opened up a broad road to developing the DPRK into a space power and extended the self-respect and prestige of the DPRK and the national power of Chuch’e Korea to the space with his far-sighted wisdom and iron faith.

Acknowledging the enthusiastic cheers, Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated the scientists and technicians in the field of the space scientific research who achieved brilliant successes in carrying out the prior and important tasks for modernizing the armed forces of the DPRK set forth by the 8th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

He said that the possession of reconnaissance satellite is a full-fledged exercise of the right to self-defense the DPRK armed forces can neither concede even a bit nor stop even a moment as they should firmly defend the security environment, development and interests of the DPRK and the security and happiness of its people and actively deter, control and manage various kinds and forms of the dangerous and aggressive moves of the hostile forces.

He said that our new-type carrier rocket, which was named Ch’o’llima shining in the history of the Korean revolution as a symbol of heroic pioneering and rapid development, rose up, foretelling a new era of a space power coming to the DPRK. And he highly appreciated that the eye-opening event of deploying the reconnaissance satellite constantly grasping the military intention and moves of the hostile forces with our space guard and powerful sighting telescope is the precious victory brought by the independent resolution of the WPK and DPRK government, and the ardent patriotic spirit and strong practical ability of the space scientists who absolutely support and uphold the Party’s plan.

He had a significant photo session with the scientists and technicians of the NATA, expressing belief that they, who remarkably bolstered war deterrence of the DPRK and most correctly and wonderfully implemented the resolution of the Party Congress through the successful launch of reconnaissance satellite, would make dynamic advance toward the immediate and long-term goal of developing the aerospace reconnaissance capacity set forth by the Party with redoubled efforts.

All the scientists, technicians and officials of the NATA made a firm pledge to devotedly defend the security and eternal future of the country with continuous successes in developing ultra-modern space science and technology by redoubling the indomitable revolutionary faith and will they displayed on the untrodden path for possessing reconnaissance satellite under the leadership of the great Party Central Committee.

An affiliate of 38 North