The successful satellite launch in the DPRK was a desire at the behest of general secretary Kim Jong Il and part of peaceful work in line with the country's scientific and technological development plan for the economic construction and improvement of people's living standard.

All the people across the country are greatly excited at the news of the successful launch and progressives are extending sincere congratulations to them.

Hostile forces, however, are showing signs of sinister bid to take issue with the launch for peaceful purposes, while terming it "violation of resolution" of the UN Security Council.

The right to use outer space for peaceful purposes is universally recognized by international law and it reflects the unanimous will of the international community. So this issue is not one over which the UNSC can say this or that.

Only the DPRK's satellite launch is regarded as long-range missile launch for military purposes, "provocation" and cause of increasing tension. This is prompted by the hostility toward the DPRK.

The U.S. over-reacted to the DPRK's satellite launch in April out of hostile feelings which compelled the DPRK to reexamine the nuclear issue as a whole.

The concept of hostility will not be of any help, and confrontation will not help settle anything, either.

We hope that all countries concerned will use reason and remain cool so as to prevent the situation from developing to undesirable direction.

No matter what others say, we will continue to exercise our legitimate right to launch satellites and thus actively contribute to the economic construction and improvement of the standard of people's living while conquering space.