North Korea threatens war declaration
North Korea has announced that any interference with its satellite operations will be considered an act of war, provoking the "mobilization of its deterrent potential". As reported by the official KCNA agency, this would result in the "elimination of the survival capability" of U.S. spy satellites.
"If the United States tries to infringe upon the rights of a sovereign state, we will exercise our international and national rights to diminish and eradicate the survival abilities of U.S. spy satellites," says the message relayed by the KCNA, a statement from the spokesperson of the Pyongyang defense ministry.
North Korea announced a successful launch of its first spy satellite on November 21. The intended purpose of this satellite was to transmit images of American military facilities located in Japan, Guam, and the continental United States while tracking the movements of U.S. and South Korean military forces.
In response, Washington imposed new sanctions, and South Korea blocked 11 North Korean citizens involved in the satellite and Pyongyang rocket projects.
Following the satellite launch, the KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had already received "detailed photos" of key U.S. locations, including the White House, the Pentagon, and aircraft carriers stationed at U.S. naval bases. "Four American aircraft carriers and one British one were identified in the photos of the Norfolk base and Newport News shipyard," the report stated.
Earlier, the North Korean agency announced that Kim had "inspected" photographs of potential "primary targets" during a visit to the control center of the National Aerospace Administration (NATA), which included Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and cities housing American military bases.
