seoul north korea performed data transmission and other key tests needed to develop a spy satellite state media said sunday in the second such tests in about a week indicating the country intends to conduct a prohibited longrange rocket launch soonthe moves come as north korea has been carrying out a spate of ballistic missile launches including one detected by its neighbors on saturday in what experts call an attempt to add new weapons systems to its arsenal and pressure the united states into making concessions amid stalled diplomacyon sunday the norths korean central news agency said it conducted another important test the previous day under its plan to develop a reconnaissance satellite it said authorities confirmed the reliability of the satellites data transmission and reception system in addition to its control and command system and various groundbased control systemskcna didnt directly mention any missile or rocket launches to conduct such satelliterelated tests but it apparently referred to the norths ninth round of missile launches this year which seoul washington and tokyo spotted on saturdayoutside experts believe north korea fired a ballistic missile carrying a camera to perform the tests described in the kcna report last monday north korea said it tested a camera designed to be placed on a reconnaissance satellite and released spacebased photos of earth a day after its rivals said it conducted a ballistic missile launcha spy satellite is among a long wishlist of new weapons systems that korean leader kim jong un has vowed to introduce to cope with what he calls us hostilityto operate a reconnaissance satellite north korea must launch a longrange rocket to put it into orbit but the un bans such a launch by north korea because it considers that as a cover for testing its longrange missile technologyits unclear if north korea has developed a sufficiently capable camera to be installed on a spy satellite as the satellite photo the country released last monday didnt include highresolution imagery north korea put its first and second satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016 but some foreign experts say neither one transmitted any imagery back to north koreaprevious satellite launches were still believed to have contributed to north koreas missile development program in 2017 north korea carried out three intercontinental ballistic missiles tests that analysts say demonstrated its potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on the american homelandexperts say north korea will likely conduct a spy satellite launch ahead of a major political anniversary in april the 110th birthday of state founder kim il sung the late grandfather of kim jong undiplomacy between pyongyang and washington has remained largely stalled for about three years due to disputes over usled sanctions on north korea earlier this year north korea testfired a variety of sophisticated nuclearcapable missiles including one that analysts say places the us pacific territory of guam within its striking distance