South Korea to launch 5th spy satellite from US base, eyes tighter watch on North Korea

Seoul (The Uttam Hindu): South Korea will launch its fifth homegrown military spy satellite from a US space station this weekend, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. It is believed that this will further strengthen its surveillance capabilities on North Korea. According to the ministry, the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) spy satellite will be launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at around 1 am on Sunday (US time).

The satellite is part of South Korea's plan to better monitor North Korea and reduce its reliance on US satellite images. It will be South Korea's last military satellite by the end of this year. "The operation of the constellation of five reconnaissance satellites will enable the detection of any signs of North Korean provocative activity more quickly and accurately than before," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also stated that these satellites will help further strengthen the military's tri-axial (three-tiered) defense system. Once all five satellites are in orbit, South Korea is expected to be able to monitor North Korea every two hours, the agency reported.

South Korea launched its first spy satellite in December 2023. This satellite is equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors, capable of taking clear and detailed images. The country subsequently launched three more satellites equipped with SAR (synthetic aperture radar) sensors. These satellites are capable of collecting data in all weather conditions. North Korea is also intensifying efforts to enhance its space surveillance capabilities against its enemy countries.

North Korea successfully launched its first military spy satellite, Mallgyong-1, in November 2023. It has subsequently promised to send three more in 2024. Last May, a North Korean rocket carrying a satellite exploded shortly after liftoff. It has not launched a new satellite since.