North Korean leader Kim Jong Un acknowledged this week’s failed satellite launch in a speech at the Academy of Defense Science (ADS) on Tuesday and vowed to continue development due to threats from the U.S. and South Korea, according to state media.

Kim criticized Seoul’s response to the launch as “hysterical” and a “provocation,” the Rodong Sinmun reported Wednesday, stressing that enemy threats demonstrated his need to develop military reconnaissance satellite capabilities and other “modern” weapons instead of putting funding toward civilian projects. 

The South Korean president condemnedthe planned launch soon after the announcement early on Monday, and