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North Korea has notified Japan of its plan to launch a satellite in the coming days, potentially making a second attempt to put a military spy satellite into orbit. In May, North Korea’s first effort to launch a spy satellite failed when the rocket carrying it plunged into the sea soon after liftoff. This setback hindered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s goal of establishing a space-based surveillance system to monitor the United States and South Korea more effectively. After studying the failure of the first launch, North Korea vowed to make a second attempt.

Although the notice did not specify the type of satellite that North Korea intends to launch, it is believed to be similar to the spy satellite involved in the previous launch. The launch is scheduled to take place between August 24 and the end of August 30. North Korea has mentioned three maritime zones that could be affected by the launch: 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 North Korea’s planned satellite launch, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed officials to gather and analyze information about the launch and prepare for any emergencies. He has also called for cooperation with the United States, South Korea, and other concerned countries to demand that North Korea refrain from conducting the launch.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry has labeled North Korea’s planned satellite launch as an “illegal provocation” because it would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions banning the country from engaging in any launch involving ballistic activities. South Korea intends to deal with the launch sternly and in close coordination with the United States and Japan.

The launch plan coincides with the annual U.S.-South Korean military drills, which North Korea views as a rehearsal for invasion. As a result, North Korea is expected to carry out more missile tests in reaction to the exercises. The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield drills consist of simulated command post training, as well as over 30 field training exercises.

In a trilateral summit held on Friday, the leaders of the United States, South Korea, and Japan agreed to increase their defense cooperation to address North Korea’s escalating nuclear and military threats. Measures announced during the summit include holding annual trilateral exercises and implementing the sharing of real-time missile warning data on North Korea by the end of the year.

North Korea’s state media has warned that the rivals’ drills are heightening the risk of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. The country claims that it is compelled to take “offensive, overwhelming” steps in the prevailing situation but did not provide further details.

Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has conducted over 100 weapons tests, including tests of nuclear-capable missiles targeting the U.S. mainland, South Korea, and Japan. North Korea justifies these tests as a response to the expansion of U.S.-South Korea military training, whereas Washington and Seoul maintain that their drills are defensive in nature.

South Korea’s spy agency recently revealed that North Korea is making preparations for test flights of intercontinental ballistic missiles, shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles, and a spy satellite launch. In July, South Korea retrieved wreckage from North Korea’s failed attempt to put a spy satellite into space, which indicated that the satellite was not advanced enough to conduct reconnaissance as North Korea had claimed.

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