South Korea had no military reconnaissance satellites of its own in space and has partially resorted to the United States’ spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea. The North Korean satellite launch sparked immediate, strong condemnations from the U.S., South Korea and others. North Korea responded angrily, saying it has sovereign rights to launch spy satellites to cope with what it calls increasing U.S. hostilities. Since 2022, North Korea has conducted about 100 ballistic missile tests — part of efforts to modernize its arsenal of weapons targeting South Korea and the United States. South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers last week that Russia’s technological assistance likely enabled North Korea to place its spy satellite into orbit.

---

Persons: Sheryll Klinkel, Kim Jong Un, Hyung, Kim Organizations: VANDENBERG, North, California’s Vandenberg Space Force, SpaceX’s, SpaceX, South Korea’s Defense Ministry, South Korean, White, Pentagon, Korean, North Korean, United Nations, North Korea’s Defense Ministry, U.S . Space Command, U.S . Space Forces, Radio Free, Force, Associated Press Locations: South Korea, North Korea, United States, South, Korea, U.S, Radio Free Asia, North, “, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Seoul