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North Korea has informed Japan that it intends to launch a satellite in the coming days, possibly as a second attempt to put a military spy satellite into orbit. This announcement comes three months after North Korea’s first effort failed when the rocket carrying a spy satellite plunged into the sea soon after liftoff. Leader Kim Jong Un had been pushing to establish a space-based surveillance system to monitor the U.S. and South Korea more effectively.

After the failed launch, North Korea vowed to make a second attempt after studying the reasons behind the failure. The exact details of the satellite they plan to launch have not been revealed, but it is believed to be similar to the one used in the previous launch.

The Japanese coast guard received a notice from North Korean authorities stating that the satellite launch is planned between August 24 and the end of August 30. The areas that could be affected by the launch include the Korean Peninsula’s west coast, the East China Sea, and east of the Philippine island of Luzon. Japan has issued safety warnings for vessels passing through these areas.

In response to the North Korean notice, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to gather and analyze information and prepare for any emergencies. He also called for cooperation with the U.S., South Korea, and other concerned countries to demand that North Korea refrain from conducting the launch.

The reported launch plan coincides with the annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that began on Monday and are expected to last for 11 days. North Korea perceives these drills as a rehearsal for invasion and is likely to carry out more missile tests in response.

During the trilateral summit between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, the leaders agreed to increase their defense cooperation to address North Korea’s nuclear and military threats. One of the steps announced was the sharing of real-time missile warning data on North Korea by the end of this year.

North Korea’s state media warned that the rival drills are increasing the risk of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. The country stated that it feels compelled to take “offensive, overwhelming” steps in the current situation.

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