In response to North Korea’s successful launch of a spy satellite, South Korea has decided to suspend part of the military agreement signed with Pyongyang in 2018. The suspended clause will lead to increased military surveillance along the border. North Korea claims to have placed its first spy satellite in orbit, with leader Kim Jong Un personally witnessing the launch and later viewing images of key US military installations above Guam. The satellite is set to begin its formal reconnaissance mission on December 1. South Korea and Japan are assessing whether the satellite is indeed in orbit, and the US is evaluating the success of the launch.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently in Britain for a state visit, approved the decision to suspend part of the inter-Korean agreement. The Comprehensive Military Agreement, aimed at de-escalating tensions, was signed in 2018 between former South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un. Critics argue that the agreement weakened Seoul’s monitoring capabilities, while North Korea has previously violated its terms.
To demonstrate a strong response, the US nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe has docked in South Korea, following the arrival of the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. Joint maritime drills with the US and Japan are planned to exhibit a firm stance against North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The US National Security Council called the satellite launch a “brazen violation” of UN Security Council resolutions, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged North Korea to comply fully with UN resolutions.
China, North Korea’s closest ally, urged all parties to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The launch is the first since Kim Jong Un’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Russia, where Putin pledged assistance in building satellites. South Korean officials suggest that the launch involved technical help from Moscow, highlighting a growing partnership between North Korea and Russia. Some missile experts, however, believe it is too early for Russian technical assistance to be fully incorporated into the satellite or the rocket, as Moscow would not have shared highly sensitive and proprietary technology.
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