New Earth observation satellite in development

Advancement draws fresh attention to Pyongyang's fledgling space program

Democratic People's Republic of Korea space agency officials said the country is developing a more advanced Earth observation satellite and are defending their right to conduct rocket launches whenever they see fit, despite protests by the United States and others that the launches are allegedly aimed at honing technologies for military use.

The DPRK last launched a satellite in 2012. The claim that it is working on another, made in an interview last week with an Associated Press television crew in Pyongyang, comes amid a flurry of attention to the country's fledgling space agency, including a visit by leader Kim Jong-un to a new satellite control center that was repeatedly broadcast on DPRK television early last month.