The general manager of the Dandong Koryo Trade Co. Ltd of China said that on Dec. 12 he heard the news about the DPRK's satellite launch ahead of his departure for the country, adding:

The successful launch of the satellite is a great victory for the Korean people but a bomb-like declaration to the U.S., Japan and south Korea.

When I arrive in Pyongyang I will extend the highest congratulations to General Kim Jong Il and Marshal Kim Jong Un who provided such a great achievement, he said.

Kim Kyong Su, deputy editor-in-chief of the Liaoning Korean Paper of China, and other citizens sent letters which read: We warmly congratulate the DPRK on its successful satellite launch. This is a great event making the world know about the DPRK. The Korean nation is great. Long live the Korean people!

A citizen said the DPRK is the most powerful country and it is strong in independence. This country does whatever it wants to do, not reading others' face no matter what they say, he said, sincerely congratulating it on its successful satellite launch.

Atanas Ivanov, honorary chairman of the Bulgarian Communists Union, said that he heard the news that the DPRK successfully put the satellite in its planned orbit.

Extending sincere congratulations, he said that he was pleased to see the Korean people winning one victory after another, overcoming hardships and difficulties.

Georgi Yanchev, former councilor of the Bulgarian embassy in Pyongyang, said in the excited tones that he regards the success of the DPRK as his own and hoped that all things would go well in the DPRK, extending congratulations to it once again.

Vladimir Dvorkin, senior researcher of the International Security Center of the Institute of the World Economy and International Relations under the Russian Academy of Sciences, was interviewed by the paper Nezabisimaya Gazetta.

Recalling the repeated failure experienced by the U.S. in its process of space development, he said:

We should congratulate the DPRK on its successful launch of space rocket.

This is an undoubted success for the DPRK designers and technicians.

Christer Lundgren, chairman of the Sweden-Korea Friendship Association, posted an article "Achievements of the DPRK" on an internet newspaper and the internet homepage of the association on Dec. 12.

The DPRK succeeded in launching long-range rocket and putting the satellite into the orbit, the article noted, and went on:

The DPRK once again exercised its right to use space for peaceful purposes by the successful launch of its scientific and technical satellite this year marking the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung.

The recent satellite liftoff is a significant event as it took place in the year marking the centenary of birth of Kim Il Sung and the first anniversary of demise of Kim Jong Il.

The satellite launch in the DPRK clearly represents the great achievement made by the Korean people in their drive to develop science and technology and improve the standard of people's living under the leadership of Kim Jong Il and the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

Denial of the DPRK's right to satellite launch is precisely the application of double standards.

Critics say that the DPRK's technology may be used for military purposes but it is self-evident that the recent satellite launch clearly appeared to have no military dimension.

The DPRK strongly rejected the rumor about its development of long-range missile.

The UNSC, pursuant to the U.S. policy, prohibits the DPRK only from launching satellites.

Even though south Korea and the countries around it planned or launched satellite, they were not blamed for increasing tension and threatening the peace and security.

It is sheer sophism to say that the DPRK has no right to launch satellite as the UN General Assembly adopted resolutions on peaceful use of space.

The Associated Press, Reuters, paper Guardian and other media and experts of the West are commenting on the DPRK's successful satellite launch.

Saying this year marks the centenary of birth of Kim Il Sung, they stress that the satellite launch would mark an occasion for consolidating the single-minded unity in society of the DPRK where all the people are rallied close around Kim Jong Un.

Tokyo Shimbun reported on Dec. 13 that an official of the Japanese Ministry of Defense expressed surprise at the DPRK's successful satellite launch.

U.S. space data analyst Martin Williams said that the DPRK's success in putting working satellite into orbit is an important moment in the Korean history, adding this is a success of great significance for the DPRK.