South Korea successfully launched its second military reconnaissance satellite, shortly after North Korea reiterated its plans to launch multiple spy satellites this year.
The satellite achieved orbit following its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States, on Sunday, as announced by South Korea’s National Ministry of Defense.
Seoul’s military emphasized in a statement that the successful launch has further bolstered its “independent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.”
“We are determined to continue with our satellite launch plans seamlessly,” the statement added.
The Falcon 9 rocket took off at 23:17 GMT, and the satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle 45 minutes later, entering its designated orbit, as per the ministry’s report.
Approximately two hours and 40 minutes after the launch, the satellite established successful communications with a ground station, the ministry noted.
Five military spy satellites by 2025
South Korea aims to deploy a total of five military spy satellites by 2025, in a competitive effort with North Korea to enhance surveillance capabilities amidst escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea launched its inaugural spy satellite, Malligyong-1, in November of the previous year after two earlier unsuccessful attempts, while South Korea achieved orbit with its satellite the subsequent month.
North Korea has claimed that its satellite transmitted imagery of significant sites in the United States, such as the White House and the Pentagon, although it has not publicly released any of these photos.
In a statement made on March 31, Pak Kyong Su, the vice general director of North Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration, announced the country’s plans to launch several more reconnaissance satellites this year. Leader Kim Jong Un had previously articulated a goal to launch three additional military spy satellites into space in 2024.
South Korean Defence Minister Shin Wonsik mentioned on Monday that the initial of these upcoming launches could occur as early as next week, coinciding with the April 15 birthday celebration of state founder Kim Il Sung. This holiday, known as the Day of the Sun, typically involves grand ceremonies and military parades.
