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North Korea has announced that the waters east of the Philippines’ Luzon island, along with the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, are designated as “danger areas” for its upcoming satellite launch. The launch, scheduled between August 24 and 31, has drawn condemnation from Tokyo and Seoul, who have demanded that it be called off. Japan has mobilized ships and its PAC-3 missile defense system as a precaution, while South Korea has declared it an illegal act that violates UN sanctions.

Experts have noted that there is significant technological overlap between the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and space launch capabilities. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan has urged Pyongyang to cancel the launch, stating that Japan is working with South Korea and the United States to gather more information and is taking all necessary measures to prepare for any unforeseen eventuality.

In May, North Korea attempted a satellite launch which ended in failure, with the rocket plunging into the sea. The regime vowed to successfully launch its spy satellite in the near future as a counterbalance to the growing US military presence in the region. The current launch plan coincides with the annual joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, which North Korea views as rehearsals for an invasion. The drills have drawn criticism from North Korea’s state news agency, which warned of the possibility of a “thermonuclear war” if the drills involve a “nuclear provocation”.

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has made the development of a military spy satellite a top priority. The crash of the satellite in May sparked a salvage operation involving South Korean and US experts, who determined that the satellite had no military utility.

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