PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Thursday that no one could prevent it from exploring outer space and more satellites would be launched.

Space technology has become a symbol of a country's prosperity and the DPRK's endeavor to conquer space aims to develop the economy and defend its sovereignty, said an article carried by the official KCNA news agency.

"It is an inviolable independent right for a sovereign state to develop the outer space for peaceful purposes," the article said, adding that "no one can block the DPRK in its grand drive for conquering space."

The DPRK launched a Kwangmyongsong-3 observation satellite on April 13 to mark the 100th birthday of late DPRK founder Kim Il-sung. The long-range rocket crashed into the sea after traveling a short distance and the DPRK confirmed the failure later in the day.

On April 16, the UN Security Council issued a presidential statement, condemning the launch and demanded that Pyongyang fully comply with relevant resolutions and suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.

The Security Council also said it would take further action in the case of a fresh launch or nuclear test.