opinion

It has been nine years since earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong (Shining Star) 4 was put into space.

The successful launch of the satellite enhanced the status of the DPRK as a full-fledged space power.

It was not easy to raise space science and technology, which can be said to be a synthesis of advanced science and technology, onto the world level in a matter of five years.

This eye-opening event is the precious fruit of outstanding leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, who wisely led the launch of the DPRK’s application satellites in succession with his gifted wisdom, scientific insight, matchless courage and adroit strategy and thereby put the country’s space development onto a higher stage.

Under the energetic leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Un, the DPRK could succeed in the launch of sci-tech satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2, the first application satellite made with its own efforts, technology and intelligence 100 percent, on December 12 2012, an event of national significance.

He put forward a higher space exploration goal of developing and launching more communications and other application satellites at the March 2013 Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and saw to it that an ordinance on adopting the law on space development and a resolution on setting up the National Aerospace Development Administration were adopted at the Seventh Session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly in April that year. As a result, the building of a space power was legalized as an important state affair that cannot be suspended and that is irreversible and it became possible to more dynamically push ahead with the building of a space power under the unified guidance of the state.

Accordingly, the satellite control centre was built splendidly as befits the structure of Juche Korea aspiring after a space power, the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground was given a new facelift and remarkable progress was made in the development of space including the design and manufacture of application satellites and the development of satellite control equipment. 

The General Secretary took a measure to actively conduct various forms of space sci-tech exchange activities including the space sci-tech symposium and exhibition on a nationwide scale so as to arouse the interests of academic and public circles in space development.

In that period, he spent days and nights of devotion for the successful launch of Kwangmyongsong 4, an earth observation satellite, saying that satellite launch is the firm will of our Party and people and a legitimate right of a sovereign state and that we should launch the satellite according to our decision and will no matter what others may say.

Despite the midwinter cold in mid-January 2016, he visited the satellite launching ground, guided preparations for launching the satellite all day as he skipped his lunch, sent the autograph “Kwangmyongsong” to be inscribed on the carrier rocket and bestowed benevolent affection upon space scientists and technicians who were conducting the assembly work day and night on the spot.

He visited the satellite launching ground again in late January to guide the vertical hoisting of the carrier rocket despite severe cold.

As a result, Kwangmyongsong 4 blasted off into space successfully on February 7 2016.

As to the speed of space development of their motherland, overseas Koreans said with excitement that “We feel national pride in the might of our Republic” and “In the future, our country will put satellites in succession into space, in addition to the earth observation satellite, and we will be able to see everything we want to see on the earth through our satellites”.

Like this, his infinite patriotic devotion and immense love and trust shown for space scientists and technicians served as the patriotic soul for space conquerors and the motor and fuel for carrier rockets to hasten the mega-event in the 5 000-year national history.