By Kim Rahn

North Korea has pledged to launch more satellites, saying it will seek space development programs to develop its economy and improve its people's lives, the state newspaper said Monday.

In an article titled "Unstoppable global trend, space development," the Rodong Sinmun declared space development is an independent right of a sovereign nation. "According to our five-year plan for space development, we will launch more working satellites, such as geostationary ones, which can contribute to improving the economy and people's lives," it said.

The report comes amid unusual movements, such as new construction detected recently at the Dongchang-ri long-range missile launch site in North Pyongan Province.

The satellite launch plan is seen as justifying the North's long-range rocket firing -- Pyongyang fired several of what it claims are satellites, including Kwangmyongsong-1 to Kwangmyongsong-4, but experts believe the launches may have been tests of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technologies, of which the North claims to be nearing completion.

"It is a global trend to seek economic development through space programs," the newspaper said, citing satellite developments in other countries like Cambodia, Venezuela and Myanmar.

"Some specific countries manipulated United Nations Security Council sanctions and prevent space development of a legitimate sovereign country only because they are irritated. This is an unacceptable violation of the right to development," it said.

The media claimed North Korea has stepped into the stage of working satellite development along with the Kwangmyongsong-4 being successfully placed into orbit in February last year. The North claimed Kwangmyongsong-4 is for Earth observation.

"We also succeeded in a captive test of a rocket engine to carry a new type of stationary satellite, paving a wider road to reach space," it reported.

Voice of America recently reported two new buildings were spotted near the Dongchang-ri site.