Jeon Ha Gyu, a spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry, told reporters Monday that the country’s first military spy satellite will be launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base on Nov. 30.
Under a contract with SpaceX, South Korea plans to launch four more spy satellites by 2025, according to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and relies on U.S. spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea.
South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers last week that North Korea is likely receiving Russian technological assistance on a spy satellite launch program.
The possession of spy satellites is part of ambitious arms build-up plans announced by leader Kim Jong Un in 2021.
Persons:
Jeon Ha, Lee Choon Geun, Lee, it’s, Vandenberg, Kim Jong Un, Kim
Organizations:
South Korean Defense Ministry, California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, SpaceX’s, SpaceX, South, Korea’s, Administration, North, South Korea’s Science, Technology Policy Institute, National Intelligence Service
Locations:
SEOUL, South Korea, North Korea, U.S, Korean, Korea, Russia, Ukraine