North Korea promises more satellite launches after failed missile test

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- North Korea vowed to launch more earth-observation satellites after its second ballistic missile test launch of the week ended in failure.

A spokesman for Pyongyang's National Aerospace Development Administration said Thursday that South Korea had unjustly criticized its past satellite launches and that the country is unfazed by the condemnations.

"Even on the international stage, [South Korean President] Park Geun-hye's faction has been shamefully disparaging our peaceful use of space and satellite launches, and in turn becoming a target of criticism and disgrace for indecent behavior," the North Korean spokesman said.

The remark was referring to South Korea's statement at the 71st United Nations General Assembly, according to South Korean news service Newsis.

North Korea said no one could dispute a sovereign nation's right to peacefully develop satellites and stated all other countries, including the United States, should fall under similar scrutiny for space development.

But Pyongyang refrained from making any statements regarding another failed ballistic missile launch, which took place early Thursday local time, according to U.S. and South Korean officials.

Seoul's foreign ministry said it strongly denounces the launch, adding the recent test represents a serious threat to international peace and security, News 1 reported.

Seoul's ministry spokesman Cho Joon-hyuk also said the missile launch was a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions regardless of its success or failure, according to the report.

The Security Council had issued a strong warning on Monday after North Korea failed to properly launch a midrange Musudan missile on Saturday.