This coming Sunday, the Republic of Korea plans to launch its fifth military reconnaissance satellite, developed by national scientific and technological forces. The operation will be conducted from the territory of a United States spaceport. According to a statement from the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, this launch is a key step in building the capacity for independent monitoring of the activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The launch of the satellite, equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), is scheduled for 01:00 local time from the US Space Force base at Cape Canaveral, Florida. This spacecraft will be the final component in the program to deploy five specialized spy satellites, initiated to ensure more effective monitoring of North Korea and to reduce reliance on satellite data provided by the United States.
The Ministry of Defense’s press release emphasizes that the deployment of a constellation of five reconnaissance satellites will ensure the prompt and accurate detection of signs of provocative activities by the DPRK. The new capabilities are expected to enhance the three-component structure for deterring military threats. After the full deployment of the satellite constellation, it is claimed that monitoring of North Korean territory will be possible with a frequency of up to two hours.