North Korea could launch spy satellite as early as this week: Analysis

North Korea is planning to launch a spy satellite in the coming days, as it has notified Japan about the launch. This announcement has led to Japan and South Korea issuing maritime warnings for ships in the surrounding seas. Despite being considered one of North Korea’s top enemies, Japan is also the coordinating authority for the International Maritime Organization overseeing the waters under the satellite’s pathway. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida criticized the plan, stating that using ballistic missile technology to launch a satellite would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to national security. In response, Japan, South Korea, and the USS Carl Vinson will be on high alert. South Korea has also warned North Korea that the launch would violate a 2018 agreement to de-escalate tensions. Whether the satellite launch will be successful remains uncertain, as North Korea has experienced failures in its previous attempts this year. South Korean officials have claimed that the wreckage from a recent launch showed the satellite had no meaningful use for reconnaissance. Speculation arose that North Korea may have received assistance from Russia in its satellite program following a visit by Kim Jong Un to meet President Vladimir Putin in September. Kim Jong Un considers a spy satellite integral to modernizing North Korea’s military and developing cutting-edge weapons. South Korea also plans to launch its own satellite with US assistance later this month.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/21/north-korea-could-launch-spy-satellite-as-early-as-this-week