South Korea has announced that it has launched a second military spy satellite into orbit amid an intensifying space race with neighboring North Korea. In total, Seoul intends to launch five spy satellites by 2025 to better monitor North Korea.
This was reported by UNN with reference to the Ministry of Defense of South Korea.
Details
South Korea has successfully launched its second military reconnaissance satellite, manufactured in the country and launched by a Space X Falcon 9 rocket from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.
"The second reconnaissance satellite of our army successfully separated from the launch vehicle and entered the target orbit at about 9:02 a.m. (00:02 GMT) and successfully established communication with a foreign ground station at about 10:57 a.m. (01:57 GMT)," the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement.
According to the South Korean military, the agency intends to "carry out new launches" - South Korea plans to launch a total of five spy devices by 2025 to better control the North.
For reference
South Korea is battling with North Korea to expand its surveillance capabilities amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang launched its first reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, last November on the third attempt, and South Korea put its own satellite into orbit the following month.
Recall
North Korea has successfully tested a new Hwasong-16B medium-range hypersonic missile, which Kim Jong-un called a key element in deterring enemies such as the United States, South Korea, and Japan.