Upon hearing this news, the Koreans are excited with great joy.

Chief Secretary Kim Phyong Hae of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea said that this historic event is a manifestation of the unshakable will of leader Kim Jong Il to open the gate to a great, prosperous and powerful nation without fail, breaking through any difficulty. He continued:

The successful launching of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 is not a mere fruition of wisdom and talent but a fierce confrontation with those who disliked it. It demonstrated the mettle of Songun Korea.

Kim Thae Bong, minister of Metal Industry, had this to say: Our scientists and technicians developed the carrier rocket and satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 and creditably put it into the orbit entirely with our own efforts and technology. Through this stark reality, I have keenly realized the might of self-supporting economy once again.

The duty of the metal industry, a pillar of independent socialist economy, is heavy in the efforts for effecting a great upsurge, he said, and stressed: It will drastically increase the production of Juche iron and supply raw materials to metal factories in concentrated way so as to make the already-built modern production processes pay off profusely.

Pyon Yong Rip, president of State Academy of Sciences, remarked: Our scientists and technicians manufactured and launched successfully the carrier rocket and the satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 with our design and technology, thus demonstrating fully to the world the dignity and honor as a satellite producing and launching country.

It has thus laid down a firm scientific and technological foundation for the promotion of scientific researches into the peaceful use of outer space and the launching of practical satellites in the future.

Kim Chang Ryong, a general of the Korean People's Army, stated that the peaceful use of the outer space is an inalienable legitimate right of a sovereign state and our launching of the peaceful satellite is a righteous work for the prosperity of the country and nation and for the progress of the humankind.

The successful launching of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 is a manifestation not only of the might of the Juche-oriented science and technology and the independent national economy but also of our invincible military power. Depending on a strong gun are the development of science and technology and the building of an economic power as well as peace, he emphasized.