North Korea Defends Satellite Missile Launches, Warns of Nuclear Retaliation

The Hwasong-12 missile in this undated combination photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 16, 2017. A Hwasong-12 flew over Hokkaido, the second largest island of Japan, on a North Korean test launch on Sept 15. KCNA via Reuters

North Korea is lashing out over allegations it is using satellite launches to develop its ballistic missile program as it makes a push at the United Nations to legitimize the launches.

North Korea’s deputy U.N. ambassador Kim In Ryong said the communist regime’s five-year satellite plan is important to the country’s economic development.