North Korea Plans to Launch 3rd Spy Satellite
North Korea Plans to Launch 3rd Spy Satellite
North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite
between November 22 and December 1. The announcement came after the US aircraft
carrier arrived at the South Korean port of Busan. Japan's government said on
Tuesday that North Korea had informed it that it planned to launch a rocket
carrying a military satellite in the direction of the Yellow Sea and the East
China Sea.
Spy Satellite into Orbit
This is its third attempt to send a spy satellite into orbit
after two failed attempts earlier this year. It is likely to be launched
anytime between November 22 and December 1. North Korea made this announcement
at a time when the US aircraft
carrier Carl Vinson arrived in the South Korean port of Busan. The ship has
been sent here to increase preparedness against Pyongyang's missile threats.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says Japan is
considering its response, along with partners such as South Korea and the
United States. He said that the use of any ballistic missile technology would
be a violation of United
Nations resolutions. The plan to launch the satellite comes after North
Korean leader Kim Jong-un's extraordinary visit to Russia last September. In
Russia, he visited a state-of-the-art space launch center, where Russian
President Vladimir Putin said he would help Pyongyang develop satellites.
Movements of American and South Korean Troops
Since North Korea wants to monitor the movements of American
and South Korean troops, it wants to send a military spy satellite into orbit
for this purpose. North
Korea conducted its first nuclear weapons test in 2006, in response to
which the United Nations Security Council passed several resolutions against
it, including calling for it to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
North Korea Condemned
Earlier this week, North Korea condemned the possible sale
of hundreds of missiles by the United States to Japan and South Korea, saying
it would increase tensions in the region. North Korea has previously attempted
to launch "surveillance"
satellites, two of which have successfully reached orbit. However, it has not
been conclusively confirmed whether these satellites are sending signals or
not.
International Maritime Organization's
North Korea, as the International Maritime Organization's
coordinating authority for these maritime areas, has informed Japan of its
launch plans three times. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the
new announcement and said he had
instructed government agencies to "collect information and make every
effort to provide it to the Japanese people, with the cooperation of the
countries concerned." Do your best to prepare for the unexpected while
calling for the cancellation of the launch plan."
Chief Director of Operations for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff
South Korea responded to the announcement by warning its
northern neighbor against the launch. "We strongly warn North Korea to immediately
suspend its current preparations to launch a military spy satellite," Kang
Ho-pil, chief director of operations for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said
on Monday. Our military will take the required action to ensure people's lives and safety if
North Korea proceeds with launching a military surveillance satellite in
defiance of our warning," he continued.
