South Korea: South Korea has launched its first spy satellite shortly after North Korea announced it had successfully launched its reconnaissance satellite. World’s top billionaire Mr. Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket was used to launch the South Korean spy satellite.
According to South Korea’s defence ministry, the country’s satellite, which was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a SpaceX rocket bearing the “KOREA” insignia, entered orbit a few minutes after launch and was able to establish contact with ground control at 11:37 AM.
The satellite is expected to improve Seoul’s surveillance capacity over nuclear-armed North Korea, which has up until now mainly relied on the abilities of its ally, the United States.
The Yonhap news agency claims that the satellite, which will fly between 400 and 600 kilometres (370 miles) above Earth, can detect objects as small as 30 centimetres (12 inches).
In an effort to improve its monitoring of Pyongyang, South Korea, which is still technically at war with the North, plans to launch four more spy satellites by the end of 2025.
The US, South Korea, and Japan condemned North Korea’s launch of the Malligyong-1 satellite last month. Their governments see Pyongyang’s space programme as a cover to test ballistic missile technology that is prohibited.
Despite international criticism and sanctions, North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capabilities have rapidly advanced under Mr. Kim Jong Un, the third generation of his family to rule this secretive nation.
North Korean state media issued a warning on Saturday, stating that any intervention by the “brigandish” US in the nation’s satellite programme would be interpreted as a declaration of war.
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