South Korea has achieved a significant milestone in military intelligence by successfully launching its first military espionage satellite, which has already transmitted high-resolution images of the central part of Pyongyang back to Earth. This historic achievement comes after the satellite was launched in December by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle from SpaceX, based in the US. This breakthrough was reported by Bloomberg News.
The satellite, which is South Korea’s first military spy apparatus, was launched in response to a similar satellite launched by North Korea at the end of last year. This development showcases South Korea’s technological advancements in military intelligence.
South Korea’s innovative satellite technology allows the country to independently gather images of North Korea’s military potential and leadership, without relying on partner countries or their technologies. The satellite transmits images from electron-optical and infrared (EO/IR) technology, offering insights into various regions of North Korea.
While the transmitted images require detailed processing, it is anticipated that the satellite will soon provide even higher resolution images. Military sources suggest that more detailed pictures will be available in the coming month, enhancing South Korea’s reconnaissance capabilities.
Although the specific objects captured in the images are not disclosed for security reasons, it is known that Pyongyang, including the headquarters of the Korea Workers’ Party and leader Kim Jong-un, was among the sites photographed.
South Korea aims to fully engage the satellite in reconnaissance missions by June or July, reducing its reliance on American satellite data for monitoring North Korea. Additionally, South Korea plans to launch four more satellites by 2025 to further enhance observation capabilities, with the launch of a second satellite featuring synthetic aperture radar scheduled for April from a military base in Florida.