SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket before the launch of South Korea's second spy satellite from Florida (French)
South Korea successfully launched its second military reconnaissance satellite, days after North Korea confirmed its intention to launch several spy satellites this year.
The South Korean Ministry of Defense said that the satellite entered orbit after it was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, in the United States, yesterday, Sunday.
The ministry said in a statement that “its independent capabilities in the field of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance have been strengthened” after the successful launch, and added, “We will move forward with launching satellites in the future without any obstacles.”
South Korea, which plans to launch five military spy satellites by 2025, is competing with North Korea to expand its surveillance capabilities amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Pyongyang launched its first spy satellite in November last year on its third attempt, while South Korea put its own satellite into orbit the following month.
North Korea has since said that its satellite transmitted images of key sites in the United States, including the White House and the Pentagon, but it has not released any of the images.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier that he aims to launch three more military spy satellites into space in 2024.
North Korea's satellite launch is seen as a violation of UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons program because it uses banned ballistic missile technology.
Source: Agencies