North Korea tells Japan it plans to launch satellite in the coming days

TOKYO – North Korea has notified Japan it plans to launch a rocket carrying a space satellite between Nov 22 and Dec 1, in what Tokyo and Seoul said could be a third attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit in violation of a UN ban.

Japan’s Coast Guard said on Nov 21 the North gave notice of the launch in the direction of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. South Korea’s state maritime safety agency issued a warning to vessels of the planned launch for the same areas as previous launches.

North Korea had attempted to launch what it called spy satellites twice earlier in 2023 but failed, and South Korean officials have said in recent days that it appeared set to try again soon.

The North’s state media KCNA reported on Nov 21 that it was North Korea’s “sovereign right” to strengthen its military power against the US-led space surveillance system and defended its military satellite development, citing a researcher at the nuclear-armed state’s space agency.

The notice prompted immediate condemnation from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who said his country’s defence systems, including the Aegis destroyers and PAC-3 air defence missiles, stood ready for any “unexpected situation” that arose.

“Even if the purpose is to launch a satellite, using ballistic missile technology is a violation of a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions,” Mr Kishida told reporters.

“It is also a matter that greatly affects national security.”

Japan will work with the United States, South Korea and others to “strongly urge” North Korea not to go ahead with the launch, Mr Kishida said.

South Korea’s Defence Ministry said it was watching the North’s planned launch. Previous launches came in the early hours of the first day of the window, the ministry said, and it was possible the third attempt would be successful.

North Korea customarily notifies Japan of its plans to launch satellites, as it also does the International Maritime Organisation.

The launch would be the first since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare trip abroad in September and toured Russia’s most modern space launch centre, where President Vladimir Putin promised to help Pyongyang build satellites.

North Korea’s notice also follows its denouncement on Nov 20 of the potential American sale of hundreds of missiles to Japan and South Korea, calling it a dangerous act that raises tension in the region and brings a new arms race.

South Korea’s Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment before business hours. North Korea has not made a formal announcement of the plan on official media.

On Nov 20, South Korea’s military issued a warning demanding North Korea call off any plan to launch a satellite, which it said would be a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and a grave act of provocation that threatens South Korea’s security.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military had complied with a 2018 agreement with the North not to engage in actions that raise tension, but it indicated it may resume some training and reconnaissance flights it had suspended under the pact.

Pyongyang has been seeking to place a military spy satellite into orbit, saying it plans a fleet of satellites to monitor moves by US and South Korean troops.

North Korea has made had multiple attempts to launch what it called “observation” satellites, of which two appeared to have successfully reached orbit including one in 2016, but South Korean officials questioned whether it is transmitting any signal.

North Korea launched a satellite on May 31 that ended up plunging into the sea.

After the May launch attempt, South Korea retrieved the wreckage of the satellite from the sea and said an analysis showed it had no meaningful use as a reconnaissance platform.

On Tuesday, the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson entered the South Korean port of Busan on a previously scheduled visit as part of an increased readiness by the allies against North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats, South Korea’s navy said.

South Korea separately plans to launch its first reconnaissance satellite from California on Nov 30 with the aid of the US. REUTERS