Space program of North Korea
| 조선우주공간기술위원회 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Government of North Korea |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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The Korean Committee of Space Technology (KCST; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선우주공간기술위원회, Hanja: 朝鮮宇宙空間技術委員會) was the agency of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) responsible for the country's space program. The agency was terminated and succeeded by the National Aerospace Development Administration in 2013 after the Law on Space Development was passed in the 7th session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly.
Very little information on it is publicly available. It is known to have been founded sometime in the 1980s, and most likely is connected to the Artillery Guidance Bureau of the Korean People's Army.
The KCST was responsible for all operations concerning space exploration and construction of satellites. On 12 March 2009 North Korea signed the Outer Space Treaty and the Registration Convention, after a previous declaration of preparations for a new satellite launch.
KCST operated the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground and Sohae Satellite Launching Station rocket launching sites, Baekdusan-1 and Unha (Baekdusan-2) launchers, Kwangmyŏngsŏng satellites.
South Korea and the United States accused North Korea of using these facilities and the rockets as a cover for a military ballistic missile testing program.
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