The Korean rivals have made space a battleground, launching spy satellites and planning more for increased monitoring amid escalating arms competition.
South Korea's first military spy satellite was successfully deployed from the U.S. Vandenberg Space Force Base in California via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This move follows North Korea's recent launch of its first military surveillance satellite, heightening the space race tensions on the peninsula.
Seoul's Satellite Launch Enhances North Korea Monitoring
Seoul's surveillance satellite, carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, took off at 10:19 a.m. local time with a prominent featured word "KOREA." Local news reported the successful orbiting of the satellite shortly after liftoff, delivering the reconnaissance satellite into orbit approximately four minutes later, according to South Korea's defense ministry.
This achievement marks South Korea's acquisition of its first domestically produced spy satellite dedicated to monitoring North Korea's nuclear activities. Seoul plans to launch four additional spy satellites by 2025, enhancing its surveillance capabilities over North Korea.
Orbiting between 400km and 600km above Earth, Seoul's satellite boasts the capability to detect objects as small as 30cm, positioning its satellite technology among the top five globally, as affirmed by a defense ministry official.
The successful launch occurred less than two weeks after Pyongyang placed its spy satellite into orbit. Previously reliant on US-run spy satellites for monitoring North Korea, South Korea aims to demonstrate its capability in reconnaissance satellite technology, crucial for intelligence-gathering in potential military conflicts.
Experts believe that deploying a functional reconnaissance satellite will significantly enhance North Korea's intelligence capabilities over South Korea and provide vital data in potential military scenarios.
Seoul's plans include the launch of four additional spy satellites by the end of 2025, further fortifying its reconnaissance capabilities over North Korea. The satellites are designed to orbit between 400 and 600 kilometers above Earth, equipped with the capacity to detect objects as small as 30cm, as highlighted by the Yonhap news agency.
The defense ministry official emphasized the global standing of South Korea's satellite technology in terms of resolution and Earth observation capabilities. This achievement closely follows Pyongyang's successful launch of its spy satellite into orbit.
South Korea Confronts Tech Hurdles in Spy Satellite Development
Choi Gi-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University, noted that although South Korea succeeded in launching a military communications satellite, the development of a reconnaissance satellite faced prolonged challenges due to higher technological hurdles.
After North Korea's successful launch of its spy satellite, Choi emphasized that the South Korean government must showcase its capability in achieving a similar feat.
Experts contend that deploying an operational reconnaissance satellite would enhance North Korea's intelligence-gathering capabilities, especially concerning South Korea, providing critical data in potential military conflicts.
North Korea claims that its newly launched satellite, "Malligyong-1," has already captured detailed images of major US and South Korean military sites, including photographs of Rome, though independent verification is lacking.
North Korea's third attempt at placing a spy satellite in orbit, following two failures in May and August, has raised tensions, drawing condemnation from Washington. The regime asserts that the Malligyong-1 satellite has photographed US government sites, naval bases, and aircraft carriers, as well as military installations in South Korea, Guam, and Hawaii.
While South Korean military officials believe Malligyong-1 has entered orbit, confirming its imaging capabilities remains challenging. The satellite, possibly aided by Russian technology, has triggered diplomatic tensions, prompting discussions at the UN Security Council.
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