Cape canaveral: South Korea was set to launch its fifth homegrown military spy satellite from a U.S. space base on Sunday, the defense ministry said, in a move expected to bolster its independent surveillance capabilities against North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) spy satellite will lift off at around 1 a.m. Sunday (U.S. time) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, as stated by the ministry. This satellite is the fifth and final military satellite to be launched under South Korea's plan to deploy five spy satellites by the end of this year. The initiative aims to enhance the monitoring of North Korea and decrease reliance on U.S. satellite imagery.
The ministry highlighted in a release that operating a total of five reconnaissance satellites in a cluster would enable faster and more accurate detection of signs of North Korea's provocations. This capability is anticipated to strengthen the military's three-axis deterrence structure. With all five satellites in orbit, South Korea is expected to monitor North Korea every two hours.
South Korea successfully launched its first spy satellite in December 2023, featuring electro-optical and infrared sensors to capture detailed images. Following this, three more satellites equipped with SAR sensors, which can collect data regardless of weather conditions, were launched.
Meanwhile, North Korea has been advancing its space-based reconnaissance capabilities against its adversaries. The North launched its first military spy satellite, the Malligyong-1, in November 2023 and plans to launch three more in 2024. However, another launch attempt was thwarted when a rocket carrying a satellite exploded shortly after takeoff in May last year.