South Korea Launches Second Military Spy Satellite into Orbit

The successful launch by SpaceX enhances Seoul's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities amid escalating tensions with North Korea.

South Korea's second domestically made spy satellite was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant advancement in the country's space-based surveillance efforts.
The launch is part of South Korea's plan to deploy a total of five military spy satellites by 2025 to improve monitoring of North Korea, with the satellites expected to provide imagery every two hours.
North Korea, having launched its first military spy satellite last November, claims to have captured images of strategic locations in the U.S. and South Korea, intensifying the space race on the Korean Peninsula.
Seoul's new satellite is equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), allowing it to capture high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions, further enhancing the 'Kill Chain' preemptive strike capability.
Amid growing military ties with Russia, North Korea plans to launch additional spy satellites this year, while South Korea monitors for potential launches around significant North Korean dates.