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North Korea announced that its second attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit ended in failure on Thursday. However, the country remains determined to try again in October, according to state media reports. This comes after the country’s first attempt in May also ended in failure when the rocket crashed into the sea.

North Korea, a nuclear-armed nation, has been actively trying to place its first military spy satellite into orbit. The country claims that it plans to establish a fleet of satellites to monitor the movements of U.S. and South Korean troops.

The launch on Thursday prompted an emergency warning in Japan, urging residents of Okinawa to seek shelter indoors. However, the Japanese government later confirmed that the missile had passed through and lifted the emergency warning. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, expressed concern over the repeated missile launches and emphasized the threat they pose to regional security.

The United States, while aware of the North Korean launch, declined to provide further details. The May launch was condemned by Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington as a provocation and a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Pyongyang has stated that it requires a military reconnaissance satellite to enhance its monitoring capabilities of U.S. military activities. The country has previously attempted to launch “earth observation” satellites, with two of them seemingly successful in reaching orbit. However, there has been ongoing debate about whether these satellites transmitted any data.

Despite the setbacks, North Korea remains committed to advancing its space and military rocket programs, considering them a sovereign right. Analysts believe that spy satellites are crucial to enhancing the effectiveness of North Korea’s weapons capabilities.

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