North Korea's first military reconnaissance satellite 'Manjikyong-1' is launched from the Seohae Satellite Launch Center in Dongchang-ri, Chonsan-gun, North Pyongan Province, on Monday night. KCNA|Yonhap

North Korea poured out criticism on South Korea after it launched its first military reconnaissance satellite on December 2. The North claimed that if it is okay for the South and the United States to launch satellites, there will be no problem for the North with launching its own military reconnaissance satellite.

The Korean Central News Agency condemned the launch of South Korea’s reconnaissance satellite and justified that of North Korea’s reconnaissance satellite through speeches and commentaries over the last weekend.

"If our satellite launch is considered a 'violation' of the North-South military agreement, what about the satellites our enemies have launched so far?" the North Korean military said in a commentary. "What about the recent launch of the military reconnaissance satellite that was delayed from November 30 to December 2, but was finally executed at the behest of the U.S. military? Even shameless brats cannot insist that this is what is called 'compliance with the agreement.'”

"If our reconnaissance satellites are considered ‘a military threat' to the United States that must be eliminated, then the American spy satellites hovering over the Korean Peninsula every hour of every day and monitoring our key strategic points should be the first targets to be eliminated by our armed forces." a spokesman for the North’s Ministry of National Defense said. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said, “The North will continue to exercise its sovereign rights, including satellite launches, fully and confidently.”

Citing the deployment of U.S. strategic assets and South Korea's partial suspension of the 9.19 Inter-Korean Agreement, the North blamed the U.S. and South Korea for the deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula and suggested a military response.