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North Korea has informed Japan that it intends to launch a satellite in the coming days, potentially as a second attempt to put a military spy satellite into orbit. In late May, North Korea’s first spy satellite launch was unsuccessful, as the rocket carrying the satellite plunged into the sea soon after liftoff. North Korea has since vowed to make a second attempt after analyzing the issues with the first launch.
According to Japan’s coast guard, North Korea has notified them of its plan to launch a satellite between Thursday and August 31. It is believed that this plan is North Korea’s attempt at a military reconnaissance satellite launch. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed relevant government agencies to analyze the plan and coordinate with the United States and South Korea to urge North Korea not to carry out the launch.
North Korea has designated three maritime danger zones for the launch, two to the west of the Korean Peninsula and one to the east of the Philippines island of Luzon. These zones are outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The launch plan coincides with the start of the annual “Ulchi Freedom Shield” military exercises conducted by the US and South Korean militaries, which North Korea has denounced as a rehearsal for invasion.
This month’s drills come after the leaders of the US, South Korea, and Japan met for their first trilateral summit and agreed on steps to increase their defense cooperation. North Korea’s state media has warned that the drills deepen the risk of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, South Korea’s spy agency has reported that North Korea is also preparing for test flights of intercontinental ballistic missiles, shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles, and another spy satellite launch.
The international community, including the United States and its allies, has condemned North Korea’s previous spy satellite launch for violating UN Security Council resolutions. The failed launch also caused security concerns in the region, with South Korea and Japan issuing temporary warnings for people to seek shelter.

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