North Korea Notifies Japan of Satellite Launch Plan, Possibly Launching Second Spy Satellite into Orbit

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North Korea Plans Satellite Launch, Defying U.N. Bans

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has announced plans to launch a satellite by early next week, in a move that defies U.N. bans and raises concerns about the country’s military capabilities. The launch notification came as leaders of South Korea, Japan, and China gathered in Seoul for their first trilateral meeting on Monday.

According to Japan’s coast guard, North Korea informed them about the planned launch of a “satellite rocket,” with safety cautioning in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and China and east of the Philippine island of Luzon. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to cooperate with the United States, South Korea, and other countries to strongly request North Korea not to proceed with the launch.

The U.N. prohibits North Korea from conducting satellite launches, viewing them as a cover for testing long-range missile technology. However, North Korea has maintained its right to launch satellites and test missiles, citing the need for surveillance capabilities to monitor the U.S. and South Korea’s movements.

In response to the launch plans, senior diplomats from Japan, South Korea, and the United States have urged North Korea to cancel the launch, emphasizing that any use of ballistic technology would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. South Korea’s Unification Ministry called the satellite launch a provocation that threatens regional security.

Last November, North Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite as part of its efforts to build a space-based surveillance network. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced plans to launch three additional military spy satellites by 2024. While doubts remain about the satellite’s military capabilities, experts believe that multiple satellites could enhance North Korea’s monitoring capabilities.

The latest launch notification to Japan indicates that North Korea plans to use the same rocket stages as in its previous launch, suggesting a continuation of its space program. The launch of additional spy satellites this year could provide North Korea with more frequent imagery of targets in South Korea, Japan, and Guam.

Since 2022, North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests to modernize its weapons arsenals, prompting concerns from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. The trilateral meeting between the leaders of South Korea, Japan, and China did not include North Korea on the official agenda, but discussions about North Korea’s nuclear program and military ties with Russia took place.

South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. have called on China to use its influence to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. However, China’s enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea has been questioned, with suspicions of clandestine aid shipments to the country.

In response to recent maritime incidents, North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il threatened to take “offensive action” against South Korean navy and coast guard ships. Tensions in the disputed western sea boundary have led to maritime skirmishes in recent years, with North Korea vowing to retaliate against South Korean activists flying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border.

The launch of a satellite by North Korea raises concerns about regional security and the country’s military intentions. As diplomatic efforts continue to address North Korea’s actions, the international community remains vigilant in monitoring the situation.