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North Korea has informed Japan that it intends to launch a satellite sometime between August 24 and 31 this year, marking its second satellite launch in 2021. However, Japan and South Korea have criticized these plans, stating that any such actions would be “extremely regrettable”. The satellite is expected to fly over the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and the Pacific, areas that Japan claims are outside its exclusive economic zone.

This announcement comes shortly after the leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea held their first standalone summit to show unity in the face of China’s growing power and the nuclear threats posed by North Korea. North Korea’s previous satellite launch on May 31 ended in failure due to issues with the engine and fuel system, resulting in the satellite plunging into the sea.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called on North Korea to stop any planned launches and has announced that Japan is preparing its PAC-3 missile defense system while gathering information. South Korea’s Unification Ministry has also urged North Korea to cancel its planned launch, labeling it a violation of UN sanctions that prohibit the use of ballistic missile technology.

The launch in May was North Korea’s sixth attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit and the first since 2016. It was intended to monitor U.S. military activities but was deemed to have no meaningful military use by the South Korean military after retrieving the wreckage. Recent intelligence reports suggest that North Korea is preparing for another spy satellite launch in the coming weeks to commemorate its founding anniversary on September 9.

Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, has prioritized technical improvements in satellite technology for the second half of this year. Experts believe that the upcoming launch serves multiple purposes, including showcasing strength during the trilateral summit and ongoing military drills between South Korea and the United States.

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