Kim Jong Un says North Korea has finished development of first spy satellite

North Korea says its spate of weapons tests are a response to joint military exercises between the United States and its regional allies South Korea and Japan

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country has completed the development of its first military spy satellite and ordered officials to go ahead with its launch as planned, state media reported Wednesday.

During his visit to the North’s aerospace agency Tuesday, Mr. Kim stressed it’s crucial to acquire a space-based surveillance system in the face of what he called U.S.-led security threats, the Korean Central News Agency said.

North Korea says its spate of weapons tests, including its first test-launch of a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the U.S. mainland last week, are a response to joint military exercises between the United States and its regional allies South Korea and Japan.

At the National Aerospace Development Administration, Mr. Kim said military reconnaissance was crucial for North Korea to effectively use its methods of war deterrence, according to KCNA.

Mr. Kim said “the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1” had been built as of April and ordered efforts to speed up final preparations for its launch at a date that wasn't disclosed. He said North Korea must launch several satellites to firmly establish an intelligence-gathering capability, KCNA said.

Mr. Kim also accused the U.S. and South Korea of expanding their hostile military campaigns in the name of bolstering their alliance. He accused the U.S. of transforming South Korea into “an advanced base for aggression” by deploying strategic assets like aircraft carriers and nuclear-capable bombers.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries have been expanding their combined drills to beef up their deterrence against North Korea's growing nuclear threats. This week, the allies launched a 12-day aerial exercise involving some 110 warplanes and staged a one-day naval missile defense exercise with Japan.