Ten years have passed since the earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 was successfully launched in the DPRK.

When Kwangmyongsong 4 soared into space on February 7 2016, the whole country seethed with excitement and delight.

Conquest of space–this is a dream of humankind and an essential task for hastening the future of prosperity and happiness.

Therefore, countries are setting ambitious goals for conquering space and persistently going on the arduous journey towards the unknown, faraway world.

The DPRK successfully sent into orbit its first application satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2 in 2012.

With the successful launch of the operational satellite of which design, production, assembly, launch and observation were completed by the nation’s own efforts, the DPRK joined the ranks of the application satellite possessors.

The space scientists were faced with the tasks to develop and manufacture more satellites for different purposes and thus make a positive contribution to bolstering the national power, developing the economy and improving the people’s living standards.

At that time, the world’s advance to the universe became more intensive and its structure varied.

With an insight into the situation, General Secretary Kim Jong Un worked out a plan to put the country’s space development on a new high stage and energetically led the work to carry it out.

Consequently, the DPRK Law on Space Development was promulgated, the then National Aerospace Development Administration was organized and the then satellite control centre was built to push ahead with the country’s space development with vigour.

The General Secretary indicated the importance of the NADA’s mission in implementing the plan of the Workers’ Party of Korea for building a space power and illuminated all the issues arising in the research into space science and satellite launch. He also guided the whole course of the preparations for the launch of the earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 on the spot and led it to a complete success.

Afterwards, the space scientists succeeded in the static test-firing of a new type of high-thrust motor for a geostationary satellite carrier rocket and in the launch of a reconnaissance satellite to bring great pleasure to the people.

Today, the country’s forces of space science and technology have grown stronger, many scientific and technological problems arising in the control and operation of satellites have been solved, and the work for introducing the applied technologies to economic construction, improvement of the people’s standard of living and buildup of the national defence capabilities is being pushed forward.

Under the wise leadership of the Party, greater progress and successes will be made in the DPRK’s space development in future.