South Korea Launches Third Military Spy Satellite To Monitor North Korea Today

South Korea's military spy satellite launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral April 7, 2024. (Source: South Korean Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - South Korea (South Korea) is scheduled to launch a third domestically made military spy satellite today, as part of efforts to increase surveillance of North Korea (North Korea).

The plan is for the launch to be carried out from the United States space center, to be precise the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 3:34 a.m. (local time) on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, quoted from The Korea Times December 21.

If successful, this would be South Korea's third military spy satellite orbiting under plans to acquire five moderate to large spy satellites by 2025, in order to increase monitoring of North Korea.

Previously, Ginseng Country successfully launched two spy satellites. The first satellite was launched from the California space base in December last year. It is equipped with an electro-optical and infrared sensor to capture detailed images of the Earth's surface.

April this year, South Korea successfully launched its second spy satellite from the John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. This satellite is equipped with a synthetic apertur radar sensor (SAR) that captures data using microwaves, capable of collecting data in all weather conditions.

The plan is that the satellites that will be launched today and the two upcoming satellites will also be equipped with SAR sensors.

South Korean defense authorities predict that future launches will further enhance the three-military dimension prevention program against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Seok Jong-gun, who will oversee the third launch, said grouped satellite operations would allow the military to better identify signs of North Korea's provocation.

The latest launch comes as North Korea has also stepped up efforts to acquire space-based reconnaissance capabilities.

Pyongyang itself successfully launched its first military spy satellite, Malligyong-1, in November 2023 and has pledged to launch three more spy satellites this year.

However, North Korea has not resumed the launch of a satellite since a rocket carrying a satellite exploded shortly after taking off in May.