Kim studies spy pictures of the White House
After two failed attempts, North Korea sends a spy satellite into space - probably with the help of Russia. At the UN, the country defends the action as "legitimate". Ruler Kim is now asking the White House to provide him with detailed photographs.
North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations has described the launch of a spy satellite around a week ago as a "legitimate" act of self-defense against the USA. "No other nation in the world is in such a critical security situation" as North Korea, North Korean UN Ambassador Kim Song told the UN Security Council.
"A belligerent country, the US, is threatening us with nuclear weapons," he said, adding that it was North Korea's "right to develop, test, produce and possess weapons systems equivalent to those possessed or developed by the US".
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, rejected the North Korean statements and explained that the "routine" joint military exercises between the US and South Korea are "defensive".
Experts point to technical assistance from Russia
After two failed attempts, North Korea successfully launched a spy satellite into space last Tuesday, according to state media. As reported by the KCNA news agency, a carrier rocket carrying the "Malligyong-1" satellite was launched in North Phyongan province. South Korea, whose relations with its northern neighbor are extremely tense, confirmed on Thursday that the satellite had been successfully put into orbit.
On Monday, KCNA reported that the new device had already captured "detailed" images of the White House and the Pentagon in Washington and that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had inspected them. Kim had even counted the number of aircraft carriers at a US base in Virginia, it added.
According to South Korean analysts, the latest launch was most likely carried out using Russian technology as part of a growing partnership after two failed launches. Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals, but have promised each other closer cooperation.
Following the success of its spy satellite launch, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, was reported to have examined detailed images of the White House and the Pentagon, obtained from the satellite. This development has added tension to the already heated relations between North and South Korea.
In light of North Korea's satellite launch and subsequent image acquisition, concerns have arisen about potential espionage activities, leading some experts to speculate that Russia might have provided technical assistance, a claim both countries have denied.
Source: www.ntv.de
