North Korea says it conducted 'important' test for developing reconnaissance satellite

North Korea has conducted an "important final-stage" test at its rocket launching facility on putting a reconnaissance satellite into orbit, with a plan to complete preparations for the project by April next year.
The test was conducted at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on Sunday mainly to "evaluate the capabilities of satellite photography and data transmission system and ground control system," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The country fired a vehicle carrying a "test-piece satellite" at a lofted angle to an altitude of 500 kilometres, an unnamed spokesperson at the National Aerospace Development Administration said in statement carried by the KCNA.
North Korea will "finish the preparations for the first military reconnaissance satellite by April, 2023," the official said, adding that the latest test was the "final gateway process" for the launch of such a satellite.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Sunday it detected the launches of two medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) from Tongchang-ri areas into the East Sea. The missiles, fired at steep angles, flew some 500 kilometres, it added.
Outside experts said North Korea's purported launch of a satellite is widely seen as a covert test of ballistic missile technology. North Korea is banned from developing ballistic missiles under a series of UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.
North Korea has fired more than 60 ballistic missiles so far this year amid speculation it may conduct a nuclear test in the near future.