The United States is calling for “serious negotiations” with North Korea after the country launched a spy satellite.
The demand for negotiations follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un obtaining aerospace images of U.S. military bases in Guam, according to a report from the state-run agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
In reviewing the images, Un encouraged North Korea’s military forces to “operate more reconnaissance satellites.”
The spy satellite’s reconnaissance mission is to begin on December 1 after completing a “detailed piloting process.”
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement that the United States “strongly condemns the DPRK for its launch of a space launch vehicle (SLV).”
“The President and his national security team are assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners. We urge all countries to condemn this launch and call on the DPRK to come to the table for serious negotiations,” the statement added.
“The door has not closed on diplomacy but Pyongyang must immediately cease its provocative actions and instead choose engagement. The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and the defense of our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies.”
Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio denounced the launch, saying, “Even if it is called a satellite, a launch using ballistic missile technology is a clear violation of related UN resolutions,” adding, “This is a serious situation that affects the safety of the people of Japan. Japan lodged a protest with North Korea and condemned the country in the strongest terms.”
North Korea recently declared that it plans to restore “all military measures” paused under a 2018 inter-Korean deal.
A statement was provided to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which said, “From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement.”
“We will immediately restore all military measures that have been halted according to the north-south military agreement.”
According to the statement, “We will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line.”
