The Democratic People's Republic of Korea launched its first artificial earth satellite in 1998.

In less than 20 years afterwards, it launched an earth observation satellite, an application satellite, via another test satellite launch.

It made the satellites relying entirely on its own efforts and technology ranging from designing to manufacture, assembly, launch and observation after launch and put them into orbits with its own carrier rockets, launching ground and launching pad.

The first application satellite is "Kwangmyongsong-3-2", a scientific and technological satellite launched on December 12, Juche 101(2012). 

That day the respected Kim Jong Un came out to the Satellite Control Centre and observed the whole course of its launch in detail. He stressed the need to bring about a fresh turn in the study of space science and the satellite launch on the basis of the successful launch of "Kwangmyongsong-3-2".

The next year, he advanced a higher goal to develop and launch more application satellites of different kinds including the communication satellite at the March Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

He proposed building the Satellite Control Centre of the National Aerospace Development Administration and modernizing the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, thus providing a firm springboard for putting the space development of the country on a new high stage.

He chose the site for the Satellite Control Centre in the best place and solved all problems arising in its construction ranging from designing to formation of construction force and supply of materials.

Kim Jong Un looked round the newly-built Satellite Control Centre of the National Aerospace Development Administration on May 2, Juche 104(2015). He said with satisfaction that it was built wonderfully and its style is new and peculiar.

Under his concern for the space development, Korean scientists and technicians completely succeeded in putting the earth observation satellite "Kwangmyongsong-4" into its orbit in less than four years after the launch of the first application satellite.

Before the satellite launch, Kim Jong Un called at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground time and again to inspire the scientists and technicians with strength and courage.

On February 7, Juche 105(2016) the earth observation satellite "Kwangmyongsong-4" was successfully launched and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea entered the stage of developing application satellites on a full scale.

Kim Jong Un set it as an immediate goal of space development to launch a geostationary satellite into the outer space in the near future.

Under his guidance, a great success was made in the static firing test of new-type high-thrust motor for the carrier rocket of geostationary satellite in September that year, paving a broad avenue for conquering the outer space.

Under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, the DPRK joined the front rank of space powers and is pushing forward with the peaceful space development on a full scale.