Kim Jong-un showed off his technological prowess with his daughter, Ju-ae, but…Spotting Russian Help

North Korea’s Central Television reported on the 24th that Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the National Aerospace Development Administration on the 23rd and took a commemorative photo with scientists and technicians who contributed to the successful launch of the first military reconnaissance satellite ‘Manrikyong 1’. His daughter Ju-ae was also present at the scene. ⓒKorean Central News Agency

Chairman Kim Jong-un of North Korea was seen celebrating the successful launch of the reconnaissance satellite by visiting the National Aerospace Development Administration with his daughter Ju-ae and holding a celebration banquet. Despite emerging evidence of Russia’s crucial role in the success of the launch, Chairman Kim touted their technological prowess, describing it as “innovative”.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 24th that Chairman Kim visited the National Aerospace Development Administration the day before, took a commemorative photo with affiliated scientists, technicians, and executives, and encouraged them.

Chairman Kim stated, “Having a reconnaissance satellite is indispensable to our military power, which needs to proactively suppress and control a wide range of dangerous aggressive acts by hostile forces. It is a dignified exercise of the right to self-defense that cannot be compromised or paused for a moment.”

He continued, “Our new transport rocket, engraved with the name ‘Chollima’, heralds a new era of space power in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and it is a remarkable event to deploy a reconnaissance satellite, which constantly grasps the military movements and preparations of hostile forces, as a sentinel and a powerful telescope in space,” emphasizing the advancement of technology.

Furthermore, he said, “The successful launch of the reconnaissance satellite has dramatically increased the war deterrent of our republic,” and encouraged the scientists and technicians of the National Aerospace Development Administration to “work harder towards the immediate and future goals of aerospace reconnaissance capability set by the party.”

On the same day, Chairman Kim also held a celebration banquet for the successful launch of Manrikyong-1 at the banquet hall Mokran House in Pyongyang. His daughter Kim Ju-ae and his wife Ri Sol-ju also attended the banquet. His daughter Kim Ju-ae also visited the National Aerospace Development Administration.

Korean Central Television reported on the 22nd that Chairman Kim Jong-un attended the launch of the reconnaissance satellite ‘Manrikyong-1’ with the new satellite transporter ‘Chollima-1’ at the West Sea Satellite Launch Site in Cholsan County, Pyonganbuk-do at 10:42 pm on the 21st and took a commemorative photo with scientists. ⓒKorean Central News Agency

While Chairman Kim is celebrating the success, the international community is on high alert for the degree of Russian technical support.

In fact, evidence of Russian support is emerging. On the 22nd, the North Korean Workers’ Party official newspaper Rodong Sinmun released a group photo of Chairman Kim Jong-un, who passionately congratulated the scientists on the launch at the site.

In the photo, Chairman Kim is seen celebrating the satellite launch with about 100 scientists and technicians dressed in ‘National Space Development Administration’ uniforms, including Chang Chang-ha, the head of the Missile Bureau, and Kim Jong-sik, the deputy director of the Party’s Military Industry Department.

Among them was a person who appeared to be a Westerner, who kneeled and sat on the launch pad and participated in the group photo shoot with Chairman Kim and others. Currently, there is speculation that this person is a Russian support personnel.

The arrival of a Russian military aircraft in Pyongyang the day after North Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite is also being mentioned as evidence of Russian support.

According to the civilian aviation tracking site ‘Radar Box’ on the 23rd, an Ilyushin Il-62M belonging to the Russian Air Force departed from Vladivostok, Russia at 12:19 pm (local time) on the 22nd and arrived at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.

The reason for the Russian military aircraft heading to Pyongyang and the passengers are unknown, but there is a possibility that it is related to the operation of North Korea’s satellite, as it happened right after North Korea launched the reconnaissance satellite ‘Manrikyong-1’ on the new rocket ‘Chollima-1’ on the night of the 21st.

Bruce Bennett, a senior researcher at the U.S. RAND Corporation, told Radio Free Asia (RFA), “I think it is most likely that (Russian) scientists specializing in satellites were on board.”

Our National Intelligence Service also believes that Russia was involved.

The National Intelligence Service explained at a closed meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee the day before, “We believe that Russia helped with the success of North Korea’s missile. Putin openly expressed his will to support North Korea’s missile itself during the North-Russia talks, and after the talks, North Korea provided Russia with blueprints and data related to the first and second missiles, and the circumstances were confirmed that Russia provided the analysis results (to North Korea).”