Tue, Nov 07, 2023 page5

• S Korea to launch military spy satellite

  EYES ON YOU: While Pyongyang’s two previous attempts to launch its own espionage satellite failed, a third attempt is likely to be successful, South Korea’s spy agency said

  • AP, SEOUL
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  South Korea yesterday said it plans to launch its first domestically built spy satellite at the end of this month to better monitor rival North Korea, which is expanding its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

  The plan was unveiled days after Pyongyang failed to follow through on a vow to make a third attempt to launch its own reconnaissance satellite last month, likely because of technical issues.

  The first military spy satellite is to be launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base on Nov. 30, South Korean Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jeon Ha-gyu told reporters.

  

  Flags of North Korea, rear, and South Korea, front, flutter in the wind as pictured from the border area between two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, on Aug. 9, 2021. South Korea said Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, it plans to launch its first domestically built spy satellite at the end of this month as part of its efforts to better monitor rival North Korea and deter its potential aggressions.

  Photo: AP

  The satellite is to be carried by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Under a contract with SpaceX, South Korea plans to launch four more spy satellites by 2025, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said.

  South Korea has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and relies on US spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea.

  The possession of its own spy satellites would give South Korea an independent space-based surveillance system to monitor North Korea in almost real time.

  When operated together with South Korea’s so-called three-axis system — pre-emptive strike, missile defense and retaliatory assets — the country’s overall defense against North Korea would be sharply strengthened, said Lee Choon-geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute.

  US spy satellites produce much higher-resolution imagery, but are operated under US strategic objectives, not South Korea’s, Lee said.

  The US sometimes does not share satellite photos with highly sensitive information with South Korea, Lee added.

  Last year, South Korea used a homegrown rocket to place what it called a “performance observation satellite” in orbit, becoming the world’s 10th nation to successfully launch a satellite with its own technology.

  Observers say the launch proved that Seoul can launch a satellite that is heavier than the spy satellite, but that it needs more tests to ensure the rocket’s reliability.

  Lee said it is much more economical to use a SpaceX rocket to launch the spy satellite from the Vandenberg base.

  North Korea is also eager to acquire its own spy satellite. However, its two launch attempts earlier this year ended in failure for technical reasons.

  South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers last week that North Korea is likely receiving Russian technological assistance for its spy satellite launch program.

  The National Intelligence Service said North Korea was in the final phase of preparations for its third launch, which it said would likely be successful.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Typhoon Usagi expected to brush past Taiwan

  • 2

    Videos about Taiwan upset China: source

  • 3

    First new MRT line train arrives

  • 4

    Taiwan in Time: The rise and fall of Taipei’s sky bridges

  • 5

    Potential tropical storm could affect Taiwan: CWA