North Korea says despite being slapped with global sanctions, it will continue to work to put more advanced satellites into orbit and even aim for a lunar exploration.

The Associated Press held an exclusive interview with a senior official at North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration last Thursday in Pyongyang.

The AP quoted Hyon Kwang-il, director of the agency's scientific research department as saying that even though the U.S. and its allies try to block the communist country's space development, its aerospace scientists will "conquer space and definitely plant the North Korean flag on the moon."

Hyon said the current five-year plan, at the order of leader Kim Jong-un, focuses on launching more Earth observation satellites and what would be the country's first geostationary communications satellite by 2020. He said that for this aim, universities are also expanding programs to train rocket scientists.

The director said the North also intends "to do manned spaceflight and scientific experiments in space, make a flight to the moon and moon exploration and also exploration to other planets," adding that he personally, would like to see that happen within ten years' time.

He asserted that his country will launch more satellites, no matter if anyone thinks otherwise.