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North Korea is reportedly planning to launch a satellite later this month, according to Japanese media. The Japanese government has received notification from North Korea that the launch is scheduled to take place between August 24 and August 31. The launch is expected to follow a similar flight path to a failed attempt in May, in which the country’s rocket failed a few minutes after takeoff.

The announcement of the satellite launch comes as South Korea and the US conduct joint military drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, which have angered Pyongyang. North Korea has long been opposed to these joint exercises and sees them as a threat to its sovereignty. Its state media has accused the drills of being a prelude to an invasion aimed at taking out its leaders.

In addition to the joint military drills, North Korea has also expressed displeasure at a recent meeting between Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, and Yoon Suk Yeol. The meeting resulted in steps to counter North Korean threats, including the sharing of real-time information on missile launches and joint military training.

While North Korea is prohibited by UN Security Council resolutions from conducting ballistic missile tests, it argues that it has the right to pursue a civilian space program for satellite launches. However, the US and other countries have raised concerns that technology derived from North Korea’s space program could be used to advance its ballistic missile capabilities.

North Korea’s space program has diminished in importance over the years as it has focused on developing intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. However, the launch of a spy satellite could still provide Pyongyang with valuable information for refining its missile targeting capabilities.

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