The operations office of North Korea’s first spy satellite will act as a military intelligence agency, state media said on Sunday, AFP and Agerpres reported.

Kim Jong-un in the center of North Korea’s aerospace administrationPhoto: STR / AFP / Profimedia

“The Directorate of Satellite Reconnaissance Operations (…) began its mission on December 2,” North Korea’s official news agency (KCNA) said.

This office will function as an “independent military intelligence organization” and pass on the information it receives to the Army Intelligence Bureau and other important units, KCNA added.

Pyongyang successfully launched a military spy satellite last month and has since said it is providing it with images of key US and South Korean military facilities.

However, the regime has yet to release any of the satellite images it claims to have.

A number of UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from conducting tests using ballistic technology, but analysts say there is significant technological overlap between space launch capabilities and ballistic missile development.

According to Seoul’s intelligence, after two failed attempts in May and August, Pyongyang received help from Moscow to successfully put its satellite Malligyong-1 into orbit.

According to experts, placing an operational spy satellite in orbit will optimize North Korea’s search for information, especially regarding its southern rival, which has access to important data in the prospect of a military conflict.

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