Japan said Monday that North Korea is planning to launch a satellite between June 11 and Wednesday. The Korean embassy in Pyongyang may launch a military reconnaissance satellite in a southerly direction. Japan, the United States, South Korea and other countries are increasing their vigilance and coordination in the belief that it will be a de facto ballistic missile launch, which is banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions.
North Korea has notified the Japanese Coast Guard of its planned launch of a satellite that would affect the navigation of vessels in the following three locations: two areas west of the Korean Peninsula in the Yellow Sea and an area east of the Philippines main island of Luzon.
It's the first time North Korea has launched a satellite since February in the past two years. On the occasion, debris fell in locations around the notified sea areas.
The North last December announced that it would complete preparations for military reconnaissance satellite No. A launch-preparation committee was established by April this year following the completion of the satellite's development last month.
The North Korean leader Kim Jong Un approved a future action plan for the satellite this month. Suspected launch preparation work was identified at the Tongchang-ri Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Tongchang-ri in the northwest of the country.
In January 2021, Kim, who views the United States and South Korea as enemies, instituted the development of military reconnaissance satellites as one of his goals, as well as enhancing the country's intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM capabilities and reducing the size and weight of its nuclear weapons. The North Korea has said it plans to monitor U.S. and South Korean military bases with spy satellites in parallel with the development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear bombs.
It's unknown whether the satellites are equipped with advanced technology for capturing images and transmitting data, and some are skeptical of their reconnaissance capabilities. The basic technology in satellite boosters and ballistic missiles is the same, and North Korea has been enhancing its missile technology while it claims to be making satellite launches. In August 1998, Pyongyang s satellites passed over the Tohoku region and in December 2012 and February 2016 over Nansei Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.