- North Korea plans to launch a rocket carrying a space satellite in the next few days.
- Pyongyang informed Japan of the planned launch, the Japanese Coast Guard said.
- The launch of the rocket is scheduled to take place by June 4th.
The announcement of the launch comes shortly before the heads of state and government of South Korea, Japan and China meet in Seoul on Monday for their first trilateral meeting. The Japanese coast guard said it had been informed by North Korea of the planned launch of a “satellite rocket”.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed his officials to work with the United States, South Korea and other countries to urge North Korea to refrain from launching and to take the strongest possible measures if one does happen, his office said.
South Korea discovers signs of spy satellites
The launch plan likely refers to North Korea’s attempt to launch its second military spy satellite into space. The South Korean military said on Friday it had discovered signs that North Korea was preparing to launch a spy satellite at its main Tongchangri launch facility in the northwest of the country.
In November last year, North Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite into Earth orbit to build a space-based surveillance network to combat the military threat posed by the United States.
Legend:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a missile test in mid-May.
Keystone/KCNA (archive)
North Korea has said it needs spy satellites to better monitor the movements of the United States and South Korea and to improve the precision strike capabilities of its nuclear-capable missiles.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later said during a year-end ruling party meeting that the country would launch three more military spy satellites in 2024.
North Korea insists on satellite rights
The United Nations prohibits North Korea from conducting satellite launches, seeing them as a cover for testing its long-range missile technology. North Korea insists it has the right to launch satellites and test missiles.
North Korea’s November 2023 satellite launch has heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with both Koreas taking steps to break their 2018 agreement to reduce military tensions. In recent years, North Korea has conducted a series of provocative missile tests to modernize and expand its weapons arsenals, prompting the United States, South Korea and Japan to strengthen their security partnership.