Seoul: South Korea celebrated a significant milestone on Monday as its second domestically manufactured spy satellite was successfully placed into orbit, announced the country’s defense ministry. The satellite, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from an American space center, marks another stride forward in South Korea’s burgeoning space capabilities.
Following the successful separation of the satellite from the launch vehicle around 09:02 (1202 GMT), the defense ministry confirmed that it had entered its intended orbit. “We plan to confirm whether the satellite is operating normally through communication with overseas ground stations,” the ministry stated.
This achievement comes on the heels of Seoul’s confirmation last December of the successful launch of its first military spy satellite, also carried into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The deployment of these reconnaissance satellites underscores a burgeoning space race on the Korean peninsula, further fueled by North Korea’s recent launch of its own military satellite in November last year.
South Korea’s initial satellite has already transmitted high-resolution images of central Pyongyang to authorities in Seoul, with expectations that it will commence full mission operations as early as June. Seoul aims to expand its satellite network by launching a total of five military spy satellites by 2025, enhancing its surveillance capabilities over North Korea.
Once operational, these satellites will enable the South Korean military to monitor key facilities in North Korea with imagery updates every two hours, providing crucial intelligence gathering capabilities.
In contrast, North Korea has boasted of its own satellite’s achievements, claiming to have captured images of significant sites across South Korea and even a US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Pyongyang’s successful launch of the “Malligyong-1” satellite last year marked its third attempt at placing such a satellite into orbit.
The recent escalation in tensions between the two Koreas has further heightened the significance of these space advancements. Pyongyang’s declaration of South Korea as its “principal enemy” this year, coupled with threats of war over perceived territorial infringements, underscores the strategic importance of space capabilities in the region.
As South Korea continues to expand its satellite network and enhance its reconnaissance capabilities, the dynamic landscape of security and surveillance on the Korean peninsula is set to evolve significantly in the coming years.
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