South Korea announced Monday that it plans to launch two military spy satellites this year to improve surveillance of North Korea, in a move that could escalate the race to space between the two Koreas.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said that two synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites are scheduled to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in April and November, respectively.
South Korea began with launching an electro-optical and infrared EO/IR satellite in December, and is planning to place four more SAR satellites into orbit by 2025 to enhance space-based intelligence capabilities amid North Korea's growing missile and nuclear threats.
EO/IR satellites capture detailed images of the Earth's surface but cannot penetrate dense clouds, while SAR satellites can collect data regardless of weather, using remote sensing systems.
DAPA said that when the two satellite systems are operated together, the spy satellites are expected to be able to immediately detect early warning signs of possible nuclear or missile attacks by North Korea.
South Korea's announcement came days after Pyongyang vowed to launch 3 more spy satellites in 2024.
In November, North Korea put its first spy satellite into orbit following two failed attempts and has claimed it photographed major South Korea and US military sites.
