North Korea wants more powerful rockets

2012-12-22 16:08

The rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, being monitored on a large screen at a satellite control centre in Cholsan county, North Pyongan province in North Korea. (KCNA VIA KNS/ AFP

Seoul - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for the development of more powerful rockets after last week's successful launch of a satellite into space.

The North's official media said on Saturday that Kim made the call at a banquet for rocket scientists in Pyongyang on Friday.

The 12 December launch of a long-range rocket put the country's first satellite in orbit.

The United States, South Korea and others have condemned the launch as a test of ballistic missile technology banned under UN Security Council resolutions.

Kim had already called for sending more scientific satellites into space on the day of the launch. But his speech on Friday marks the first time he is explicitly calling for the advancement of his country's long-range rocket programme.

- AP