South Korea Launches First Military Spy Satellite, Intensifying Space Race with Pyongyang
Seoul’s satellite was launched into orbit on one of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets
Seoul Launches Military Spy Satellite
South Korea has successfully launched its first military spy satellite, intensifying the space race on the peninsula. The reconnaissance satellite was carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, owned by Elon Musk, and lifted off from the Vandenberg US Space Force Base in California.
The rocket, with the word “KOREA” emblazoned on it, took off at 10:19 am local time on Friday. Yohnap news agency reported that the satellite successfully reached orbit soon after.
This achievement means that South Korea now possesses its first domestically built spy satellite. The satellite is intended to monitor North Korea and its nuclear activities. Seoul has plans to launch four more spy satellites by the end of 2025 to enhance its reconnaissance capabilities over the North.
High-Tech Capabilities of Seoul’s Satellite
South Korea's spy satellite, set to orbit between 400km and 600km above Earth, has impressive capabilities. It can detect objects as small as 30cm, making it highly advanced in terms of resolution and Earth observation. According to a defense ministry official, the satellite ranks in the top five globally for satellite technology.
In the past, South Korea heavily relied on US-run spy satellites for monitoring North Korea. This launch proves that South Korea is now capable of developing its own reconnaissance satellite, although it faced technological challenges in doing so.
The successful launch of the spy satellite by North Korea prompted the South Korean government to demonstrate its own capabilities. Putting a working reconnaissance satellite into orbit improves North Korea's intelligence-gathering abilities, especially regarding South Korea, and provides crucial data in potential military conflicts.
North Korea's Satellite Launch and Collaboration
Prior to South Korea's launch, North Korea successfully put its own spy satellite into orbit less than two weeks ago. This achievement marked the North's third attempt, following two failures in May and August.
Experts have indicated that the North's reconnaissance satellite enhances its intelligence-gathering capabilities, including over South Korea. The North claims to have already obtained images of major US and South Korean military sites, as well as photos of Rome. However, it has not yet revealed any of the satellite images it possesses.
Seoul has stated that North Korea received technical assistance from Moscow, possibly in exchange for supplying weapons for Russia's conflict with Ukraine.
