North Korea has informed Japan of its intention to launch a satellite between August 24-31, marking its second such attempt this year. This announcement has drawn criticism from Japan and South Korea, with both nations describing such actions as “extremely regrettable.” North Korea’s planned launch route would span over the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and the Pacific, outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. This development comes shortly after the US, Japan, and South Korea held a summit to show unity against China’s influence and North Korea’s nuclear threats.
North Korea’s previous satellite launch on May 31 ended in failure, attributed to instability in the engine and fuel system of the Chollima-1 launcher. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged North Korea to halt the planned launch, indicating Japan’s readiness to deploy its PAC-3 missile defense system. South Korea’s Unification Ministry denounced the plan as a violation of UN sanctions prohibiting North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.
The May launch was North Korea’s sixth attempt to put a satellite into orbit, and it sparked emergency alerts and temporary evacuation advisories in South Korea and Japan. The wreckage of the satellite was deemed to lack meaningful military utility by South Korea’s military. Lawmakers briefed by Seoul’s intelligence agency predict another satellite launch by North Korea in the near future, possibly around its founding anniversary on September 9. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has prioritized technical improvements to the satellite for the latter half of the year, with signs of engine tests reported since July. Analysts suggest that the upcoming launch may serve multiple purposes, including showcasing strength amid the trilateral summit and ongoing South Korea-US military exercises.
(Source: Elaine Lies | Hyonshee Shin | Reuters)
