South Korea places second navy spy satellite tv for pc efficiently into orbit | Army Information

Seoul and Pyongyang are in a race to place extra reconnaissance satellites into orbit amid rising tensions on the peninsula.

South Korea has efficiently launched its second navy reconnaissance satellite tv for pc, days after North Korea reiterated its intention to launch a number of spy satellites this yr.

The satellite tv for pc entered orbit after its launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F Kennedy House Heart in Florida in the US on Sunday, South Korea’s Nationwide Ministry of Protection mentioned.

Seoul’s navy mentioned in an announcement that its “impartial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities have been additional strengthened” by the profitable launch.

“We’ll proceed with future satellite tv for pc launches and not using a hitch,” it added.

The Falcon 9 rocket was launched at 23:17 GMT and the satellite tv for pc efficiently separated from the launch car 45 minutes later and entered its focused orbit, based on the assertion.

It made profitable communications with a floor station about two hours and 40 minutes after the launch, the ministry added.

South Korea, which plans to launch a complete of 5 navy spy satellites by 2025, is in a race with North Korea to develop its surveillance capabilities amid rising stress on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang launched its first spy satellite tv for pc – Malligyong-1 – in November final yr in its third try, whereas South Korea put its satellite tv for pc into orbit the next month.

North Korea has since mentioned its satellite tv for pc had transmitted imagery of key websites within the US, together with the White Home and the Pentagon, however has not launched any of the images.

On March 31, Pak Kyong Su, the vice basic director of North Korea’s Nationwide Aerospace Expertise Administration, mentioned the nation anticipated to launch a number of extra reconnaissance satellites this yr. Chief Kim Jong Un has beforehand mentioned he aimed to place three extra navy spy satellites into area in 2024.

South Korean Defence Minister Shin Wonsik mentioned on Monday that the primary of these launches might happen as quickly as subsequent week – to mark the April 15 birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung. The vacation, generally known as the  Day of the Solar, is usually marked with mass ceremonies and navy parades.

North Korean satellite tv for pc launches are seen as a violation of United Nations sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons programme as a result of they make use of banned ballistic missile know-how.