Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

South Korea Set Spy Satellite in Orbit

POSTED ON April 8, 2024 •   South Korea      BY Benedicta Bassey
Spy Satellite/Photo Credit: Reuter

The second surveillance satellite built in South Korea was safely launched into orbit on Monday, according to the country's defence ministry.


The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the spy satellite from an American space centre into orbit, Seoul’s defence ministry confirmed.

December saw Seoul announce the successful launch of its first military surveillance satellite, which was also transported by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket owned by Elon Musk.

According to a statement from the defence ministry, "Our military's second reconnaissance satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle at around 09:02 (1202 GMT) and entered the target orbit."

It said, "We intend to verify whether the satellite is functioning normally through communication with foreign ground stations."

Following the North's first military eye on the Korean Peninsula, the most recent events have escalated a space race on that peninsula.

The South’s first satellite has transmitted high-resolution images of central Pyongyang to the authorities in Seoul and is expected to commence its full mission stages as early as June, according to Seoul’s Yonhap news agency.

Seoul plans to launch a total of five military spy satellites by 2025 to better monitor the North.

Once all five enter orbit and commence their missions, the South Korean military will have the capability to monitor key facilities in North Korea using imagery sent around every two hours, according to a report by Seoul’s government-run broadcaster KTV.

North Korea, meanwhile, has claimed its spy satellite has sent images of a US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and “major target” sites across South Korea.

Seoul has said the North received technical help from Moscow for the launch in return for supplying weapons for use in Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Experts have said putting a working reconnaissance satellite into orbit would improve North Korea’s intelligence-gathering capabilities, particularly over South Korea, and provide crucial data in any military conflict.


AFP

 

READ ALSO
South Korean minister Sang-min resigns amid martial law probe
BY Benedicta Bassey December 9, 2024 0

South Korea — South Korea’s interior minister, Lee Sang-min resigned on Sunday following...

READ ALSO
South Korea unveils drone 'flying shopping cart'
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara October 22, 2024 0

South Korean researchers have developed a transport drone flying on multiple flexible rotors that se...

READ ALSO
Doctors' Strike: S.Korea Passes Bill, Permits Nurses To Perform Medical Procedures
BY Benedicta Bassey August 28, 2024 0

Following the ongoing doctors' strike, South Korea’s parliament has passed a bill allowing nur...

READ ALSO
South Korea, Japan, US Leaders Renew Pledge to Cooperate on Regional Challenges
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 18, 2024 0

The leaders of South Korea, Japan and the United States issued a joint statement on Sunday marking t...

READ ALSO
South Korea Complains to FIFA Over Racist Abuse of Hwang
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 21, 2024 0

South Korea's football association has filed an official complaint with the global governing body ov...

READ ALSO
Samsung Workers Begin Strike Over Unmet Pay
BY Benedicta Bassey July 8, 2024 0

Workers at South Korean Samsung have begun a three-day general strike over pay and benefits, the hea...

READ ALSO
South Korean President To Attend NATO Summit Next week
BY Benedicta Bassey July 5, 2024 0

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is billed to attend NATO summit in Washington where he is expec...

READ ALSO
Multiple Explosion Kills 22 Workers in South Korea Battery Plant
BY Benedicta Bassey June 24, 2024 0

Multiple explosions set a lithium battery factory on fire in South Korea on Monday, killing 22 worke...

OUR CHANNELS:

70-Year-Old Faces Manslaughter Charges After Fatal Accident
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - A 70-year-old man, Isiaka Afolayan, has been detained for careless driving and the...


Police Arrest 49 years old Suspect for Abduction of Two-Month-Old Baby
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

DELTA, Nigeria - The police in Delta reported the arrest of a suspect named Joy Temitope for the abd...


43 Lives Lost in Benue Armed Attacks
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

BENUE, Nigeria - At least 43 individuals lost their lives when armed assailants targeted communities...


Health Equity: Nigeria's Push for Universal Health Coverage
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

In alignment with the global effort towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Nigeria is striving to...


Road Maintenance Crisis: FERMA Requires N880 Billion Yearly Amid Budget Shortfalls
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The Federal Government needs approximately N880 billion each year for the upkeep of...


Okocha Urges Victor Osimhen to Consider Staying at Galatasaray
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

Nigerian football icon Jay-Jay Okocha has shared advice with Victor Osimhen amid growing speculation...


60,000 Nigerians Abroad Register on Diaspora Data Mapping Portal
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

Approximately 60,000 Nigerians residing overseas have registered on the Diaspora Data Mapping Portal...


PDP Leaders Slam Minister for Backing Tinubu's 2027 Campaign
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 3, 2025 0

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Coalition of United Pol...


Gunmen Shot Dead Real Estate Investor, Abduct Wife
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

OWERRI, Nigeria - A real estate investor lost his life after being attacked and fatally shot by a gr...


JUST IN: Former Super Eagles Star Emmanuel Udoh Passes Away
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 4, 2025 0

The team manager of Akwa United and a former defender for the Super Eagles, Emmanuel Udoh, has been...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu