SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea stated Monday it plans to launch its first regionally constructed spy satellite on the finish of this month to higher track rival North Korea, because the North pushes to enlarge its arsenal of nuclear guns concentrated on its adversaries.
The plan was once unveiled days after North Korea failed to apply thru on its vow to make a 3rd try to launch its personal reconnaissance satellite in October, most likely on account of technical problems.
Jeon Ha Gyu, a spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry, instructed journalists Monday that the rustic’s first military spy satellite will probably be introduced from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base on Nov. 30.
The satellite will probably be carried via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Under a freelance with SpaceX, South Korea plans to launch 4 extra spy satellites via 2025, in accordance to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
South Korea these days has no military reconnaissance satellites of its personal and is based on U.S. spy satellites to track strikes via North Korea.
The ownership of its personal spy satellites would give South Korea an impartial space-based surveillance device to track North Korea in nearly near-time. When operated along side South Korea’s so-called three-axis device — preemptive strike, missile protection and retaliatory property — the rustic’s general protection in opposition to North Korea can be sharply reinforced, in accordance to Lee Choon Geun, an honorary analysis fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute.
Lee stated that U.S. spy satellites produce a lot higher-resolution imagery however they’re operated below U.S. strategic targets, no longer South Korea’s. He stated the united statesalso on occasion doesn’t proportion satellite pictures with extremely delicate information with South Korea.
Last yr, South Korea used a homegrown rocket to position what it referred to as a “performance observation satellite” in orbit, turning into the arena’s tenth country to effectively launch a satellite with its personal era.
But Lee stated it’s a lot more economical to use a SpaceX rocket to hearth a spy satellite from the Vandenberg base. Other observers say a SpaceX rocket can be extra dependable to elevate the South Korean spy satellite, which is heavier than the satellite introduced in 2022.
North Korea may be keen to gain its personal spy satellite. But its two launch makes an attempt previous this yr resulted in failure for technical causes. The nation stated it could make a 3rd try someday in October, nevertheless it didn’t achieve this and its state media has no longer supplied a reason why.
South Korea’s spy company instructed lawmakers ultimate week that North Korea is most likely receiving Russian technological help on a spy satellite launch program. The National Intelligence Service stated North Korea was once within the ultimate segment of arrangements for its 3rd launch, which the NIS stated would most likely achieve success.
South Korea, the U.S. and different overseas governments imagine North Korea is looking for refined guns applied sciences from Russia to modernize its nucler and different guns methods in go back for supplying ammunition, rockets and different military apparatus to beef up Russia’s warfare in (*30*).
The ownership of spy satellites is a part of bold palms build-up plans introduced via chief Kim Jong Un in 2021. Kim stated North Korea additionally wishes extra cell intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic guns and multi-warhead missiles to take care of intensifying U.S. military threats.
After the North’s first, failed launch in May, South Korea retrieved particles from the North’s satellite and concluded it was once too crude to carry out military reconnaissance. Lee stated the North Korean satellite would nonetheless have the ability to figuring out large goals like warships so it might be militarily helpful for North Korea.
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