북한의 조선중앙통신이 지난 2016년 2월7일 보도한 광명성 4호 발사장면.인터넷 캡처

Kim Jong-un emphasized recently that military reconnaissance satellites and high-altitude drones were “crucial in completing the early warning system and automatic control system” and directed the National Space Development Agency and Military Science Center to speed up its completion.

Following the failed military satellite launch, Kim Jong-un directed on June 22 those associated with military science technology to complete the early warning system by 2025, according to the Freedom Chosun’s source inside Pyongyang.

An early warning system guarantees the actual use of all strategic assets, such as nuclear missiles. Therefore, it is imperative to complete the early warning system for spotting and tracking potential dangers in space, ocean, and land.

National Space Development Agency set a goal to launch over 5 military satellites by 2025 per Kim Jong-un’s directive. And Military Science Center intends to launch over 10 high-altitude drones.

Asked about high-altitude drones, the source stated that the Military Science Center is testing high-altitude drones at present. Air Force headquarters and Strategic Force headquarters set up the remote aviation reconnaissance battalions last year.

On June 16, remotely controlled military drones with wing spans of 22 meters and 33 meters, respectively, were photographed by a commercial satellite. South Korean military information agency suggested that they might be high-altitude reconnaissance drones or fighter planes and added that an accurate analysis of the technology is not available yet. Also, the agency informed that they have observed frequent training of what appeared to be remotely controlled fighter planes recently.

Jang Se-yul

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