SPA President Visits Rocket Launch Personnel Accommodation

Kim Yong Nam (R) talkes with scientists, technicians and other personnel involved in the 12 December 2012 U’nha-3 rocket launch. Kim was visiting the Pyongyang hotel where the launch personnel are staying. (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 28 December (Friday) that Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium President Kim Yong Nam visited the hotel where scientists, technicians and other personnel who participated in the 12 December launch of the U’nha03 are living during their celebratory visit to Pyongyang.  Kim “congratulated the persons of merits who brilliantly carried out the behests of leader Kim Jong Il and demonstrated the immense capabilities of the great Mt. Paektu (Paektusan) power before the world by successfully launching the first working satellite.”  According to KCNA, Kim said that “The successful launch is the greatest gift presented to Kim Jong Il by our people. The scientists, technicians, workers and officials brought about a great jubilee of all the people.”  Kim told the rocket launch personnel with whom he met that “they should make the hot wind of pushing back the frontiers of the latest science and technology sweep across the country, further develop the country’s space science and technology and glorify the DPRK looked up by the world into the most power in the world, true to the Military-First (so’ngun) leadership of the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un.”