North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for launching more satellites as Pyongyang launched a long-range rocket carrying what it claimed is an earth observation satellite last week, the North's state media said Monday.



The North's leader offered words of encouragement to scientists, technicians and officials who contributed to the successful launch of its satellite, named Kwangmyongsong-4, at a banquet on Saturday, according to the Korean Central News Agency.



The leader "called for turning out scientific research to hit a higher target with the present great success as a springboard for greater victory and, thus, launching more working satellites," in the future, it said.



On Feb. 7, the North sent what it called a satellite into orbit, a move which Seoul and Washington viewed as a covert test of intercontinental ballistic missile technology.



The rocket launch came ahead of the birthday of late leader Kim Jong-un, the father of the current leader, which falls on Tuesday.



Kim said that the rocket liftoff came even as hostile forces were getting "ever more frantic to suffocate" the North, stressing that the North's push for scientific research should be continued.



The celebratory event was joined by First Lady Ri Sol-ju; Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly; and top military official Hwang Pyong-so, the KCNA said. (Yonhap)