North Korea Says It Can Launch “a Purposeful, Practical Satellite at Any Time”
Text of report by North Korean radio broadcasting to South Korea on 30 August
[Unattributed talk: "Launch of Kwangmyo'ngso'ng-1 That Manifested the National Strength of Juche Korea"]
We will carry a talk entitled, “The Launch of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-1 That Manifested the National Strength of Juche Korea.”
It is already the 10th anniversary of the day that Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-1, our country’s first artificial earth satellite, was launched. On 30 August, Juche 87, 1998, the day that in retrospect we can never forget, our people were engulfed by infinitely great emotion upon the news that an artificial earth satellite made by us was put into orbit in outer space via a delivery rocket made by us.
Our first artificial earth satellite, Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-1, which was successfully launched to the amazement of the peoples of the world, displayed the might of Kim Il Sung [Kim Il-so'ng] Korea to the whole world, boasting the result of juche science and technology that was developing with each passing day. The making and launch of the artificial earth satellite were a great, miraculous event that shook the entire planet, as an overall manifestation of our mighty national strength, and were a great accomplishment that displayed the true look of our independent socialism.
Without holding an outstanding leader [ryo'ngdoja] in high esteem, it is not possible to perform such an international miracle as the launch of a satellite nor is it possible to display national strength, even if a people joined the ranks of the countries that can launch satellites.
With the pluck and will to raise the country’s science and technology to a global standard at an early date and to create world- class things in all areas of science and technology, the respected and beloved general resolved all the issues arising from the development of the country’s science and technology and illuminated new goals and tasks for the development of science and technology, though pressed for time in walking the paths of ceaseless frontline inspections and on-the-spot guidance.
The artificial earth satellite, Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-1, which is a synthesis of cutting-edge technology, could be successfully launched, and the might of the juche fatherland could be displayed to the whole world in such a difficult time when the imperialists’ isolating and crushing manoeuvre was kept on, and natural disasters repeated themselves, because there was the great general’s idea of placing importance on science and because there was his wise leadership.
Looking around the world, we can find no country that launched a satellite by producing and making all its components 100 per cent with its own materials. Even the countries which claim that they have acquired a monopolistic position in the satellite area develop and operate satellites by way of importing special metals from one country and precision machinery from another.
However, our scientific and technological experts accomplished the making, launch and observation of the satellite 100 per cent with our own technology and with our own materials. Our self- reliance in the satellite area is an in-depth self-reliance that is achieved at a high scientific and technological level on an elaborate and high-grade material foundation.
Our country is at a level such that it can successfully launch a purposeful, practical satellite at any time, if it desires to do so. The glorious name of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-1, our first artificial earth satellite, is powerfully pervaded with all the wishes of our people.
A scientist who took part in the launch of the first artificial earth satellite said:
We wanted to reflect the minds of our scientists – or rather the wishes of all the people across the nation – in the satellite that our country made for the first time. For that reason, we gave the deeply meaningful name, Kwangmyo’ngso’ng, to it. Numerous satellites that our country will continue to launch in the future, too, will sail in outer space, while carrying the name of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng. Looking up to the satellites that carry the Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-class name, our people will even more thunderously boom out the shouts, Long Live the Great General. It is not an event that will take place in the distant future that our Korea will come to the fore as a country of unique satellites of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-class in the area of global space development. The future of our fatherland – which is a satellite-launching country – is bright.
With his sacred touch, the great general is pointing out the route that our country will follow in the 21st century. With a far- reaching plan and will to build a world-class scientific and technological power on this land, the respected and beloved general is providing everything, if it is for the development of science and technology.
Under the leadership of the great leader [ryo'ngdoja] General Kim Jong-il, juche science and technology will ceaselessly develop to a higher stage along with the construction of a powerful socialist state.
Originally published by Pyongyang Broadcasting Station, Pyongyang, in Korean 2239 30 Aug 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.