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North Korea has notified Japan’s coast guard that it intends to launch a satellite between Thursday and August 31, according to Japanese media reports. This comes after the secretive regime’s failed attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite in May. The North has informed Japan of three designated maritime danger zones for the launch.

In May, North Korea launched its first military spy satellite, the Malligyong-1, but it crashed into the Yellow Sea due to an abnormal starting of the second-stage engine. South Korea’s spy agency has suggested that Pyongyang could attempt another satellite launch in late August or early September, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the regime’s founding.

The leaders of South Korea, the United States, and Japan recently held a trilateral summit and agreed to cooperate closely for stronger missile defense against North Korea. The North has vowed to develop high-tech weapons, including military spy satellites, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and a nuclear-powered submarine.

Although some experts believe that a spy satellite would enhance North Korea’s surveillance capability and enable precision strikes against targets in war situations, doubts remain about the country’s satellite capabilities. The South Korean military has stated that the spy satellite retrieved from the Yellow Sea has no military utility.

The launch of North Korea’s satellite will be closely monitored by regional powers and is expected to raise concerns about the regime’s military advancements.

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