DPRK slams U.S. accusation of its satellite launch

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday blasted U.S. accusation of its satellite program, saying its satellite launch is for "peaceful purposes," the official KCNA news agency reported Saturday.

The state media slammed a U.S. senior advisor on strategy and communications for remarks that called for international pressure on the DPRK against its satellite program.

"The U.S. accusation against the DPRK over its just and legitimate satellite launch under the pretext of violation of the 'resolutions' is a wanton infringement upon and challenge to its sovereignty," an anonymous spokesman for the foreign ministry was quoted by the KCNA as saying.

"It (satellite launch) is an exercise of a legitimate independent right of a sovereign state publicly recognized by international law," the spokesman stressed.

The spokesman noted that the United States is imposing double standards on Pyongyang regarding satellite launch by calling the DPRK's satellite program illegal.

"The DPRK's status as a satellite manufacturer and launcher can never change no matter how desperately the hostile forces negate it, and its space development is not something that can be given up because of someone's opposition," said the spokesman. Enditem