North Korea said Monday that it conducted an “important final-stage test” for the development of its spy satellite, following reports that it fired two ballistic missiles into the waters off its east coast on Sunday.
The test was conducted at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on Dec. 18 to evaluate the capabilities of satellite photography and data transmission system, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
North Korea’s National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) said that it launched a vehicle carrying “a test-piece satellite” with a 20-meter resolution panchromatic camera to a 500-kilometer (310 mile) altitude.
The latest test was the “final gateway process” of the reconnaissance satellite, according to the NADA, adding that preparations for the satellite are expected to be completed by April next year….