South Korea boosts surveillance after North launches spy satellite | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
June 10, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025
South Korea boosts surveillance after North launches spy satellite

World+Biz

Reuters
23 November, 2023, 09:50 am
Last modified: 23 November, 2023, 10:05 am

Related News

  • South Korea President Lee's election law violation hearing postponed indefinitely: court
  • Rizwana calls for global unity for sustainable plastic use and zero-carbon future
  • South Korea's new leader to seek more time for US trade talks
  • South Korea's new President Lee vows to revive democracy from 'near demise'
  • Liberal Lee Jae-myung projected to win South Korea election overshadowed by martial law crisis

South Korea boosts surveillance after North launches spy satellite

The suspension of a clause in the agreement will see South Korea step up military surveillance along the heavily fortified border with North Korea

Reuters
23 November, 2023, 09:50 am
Last modified: 23 November, 2023, 10:05 am
People sit by a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea launching a military satellite, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
People sit by a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea launching a military satellite, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

South Korea on Wednesday suspended part of a 2018 military agreement with North Korea after Pyongyang defied warnings from the United States and drew Western condemnation by launching a spy satellite.

The suspension of a clause in the agreement will see South Korea step up military surveillance along the heavily fortified border with North Korea.

Pyongyang said it placed its first spy satellite in orbit on Tuesday. Photographs in state media showed leader Kim Jong Un watching the launch of a rocket from a base.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Kim was later briefed on the satellite's operations at the control centre of the space agency in Pyongyang and viewed images taken above the US Pacific territory of Guam of US military installations, including the Andersen Air Force Base, North Korea's KCNA state news agency said.

North Korea followed the satellite launch by firing an unspecified ballistic missile toward the sea east of the Korean peninsula late on Wednesday, but that appeared to have failed, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing the South Korean military.

The G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the EU condemned the satellite launch and called for a "swift, united, and robust" international response, particularly by the UN Security Council.

A G7 statement reiterated condemnation of alleged North Korean arms transfers to Russia and expressed deep concern about the potential for any transfer of nuclear- or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea.

US-led efforts to boost UN sanctions on North Korea have failed in recent years due to opposition from veto-wielding China and Russia.

KCNA said Kim stressed the need for more reconnaissance satellites on different orbits to give his armed forces "abundant valuable real-time information about the enemy and further promote their responsive posture."

The satellite would begin its reconnaissance mission on Dec. 1, after adjustments, KCNA said.

South Korea's military said the satellite was believed to have entered orbit, but it would take time to assess whether it was operating normally. The Pentagon has said the US military was assessing whether the launch was a success.

Jonathan McDowell, of the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, told Reuters US Space Force data had catalogued two new objects in an orbital plane consistent with the launch from North Korea.

"I conclude the objects are the spy satellite and the rocket upper stage," he said.

The launch came just over a week before South Korea plans to send its first spy satellite into space on a rocket operated by the US company SpaceX.

South Korea's Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea had "exaggerated" by saying Kim had viewed images of US military installations at Guam.

"Even if it enters normal orbit, it takes a considerable time to carry out normal reconnaissance," Yonhap quoted him as saying. "Taking photos of Guam cannot be done on the first day, if you have any knowledge of satellites."

Shin said it would take at least until the weekend to tell whether the satellite is functioning.

The suspended North-South pact, known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement and aimed at de-escalating tension between them, was signed at a 2018 summit between Kim and then South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Critics have said the pact weakened Seoul's ability to monitor North Korea while Pyongyang had violated the agreement.

SHOW OF FORCE

In response to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the US nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe docked at a South Korean port on Wednesday, a day after the arrival of the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier.

On a visit to the carrier, Defence Minister Shin said maritime exercises with the United States and Japan were planned to show "strong will" to respond to any North Korean provocation, his office said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged North Korea to fully comply with UN resolutions, which bar its use of technology applicable to ballistic missile programmes.

The foreign ministry of China, North Korea's closest ally, called on all parties to ensure peace and stability.

KCNA said the Malligyong-1 satellite was launched on a Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae satellite launch facility at 10:42 p.m. (1342 GMT) on Tuesday and entered orbit at 10:54 p.m. (1354 GMT).

North Korea had notified Japan of a satellite launch after two failed attempts to put what it called spy satellites into orbit this year.

RUSSIA CONNECTION

Tuesday's launch was the first since leader Kim met Vladimir Putin at a Russian space facility in September, where the Russian president promised to help the North build satellites.

South Korean officials said the North Korean launch most likely involved Russian technical assistance under a growing partnership that has seen Pyongyang supply Russia with millions of artillery shells.

"Didn't the first and second attempts fail because of engine problems? This time, the biggest feature is the success of the engine... It shows that Putin's offer to help in August was not a pretence," Shin said.

However, some missile experts said it was too soon for Russian technical assistance to have been fully incorporated and doubted Russia would have shared highly sensitive and proprietary technology.

Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals but have promised deeper cooperation.

south korea / north korea / spy satellite

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-U.S. trade, in London, Monday, 9 June 2025. Photo: Xinhua via AP
    US and China in trade talks in London after Trump's phone call with Xi
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus leaves for a four-day visit to the United Kingdom from the Dhaka airport on 9 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus leaves for UK; discussion expected on renewable energy investment, laundered money
  • Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters
    Trump defends sending National Guard to LA as California governor to sue administration

MOST VIEWED

  • On left, Abdullah Hil Rakib, former senior vice president (SVP) of BGMEA and additional managing director of Team Group; on right, Captain Md Saifuzzaman (Guddu), a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot for Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Photos: Collected
    Ex-BGMEA SVP Abdullah Hil Rakib, Biman 787 pilot Saifuzzaman drown in boating accident in Canada
  • A photo showing the former president on his return to Dhaka today (9 June). 
Source: Collected
    Former president Abdul Hamid returns to Bangladesh from Thailand
  • File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar
    Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus leaves for a four-day visit to the United Kingdom from the Dhaka airport on 9 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus leaves for UK; discussion expected on renewable energy investment, laundered money
  • Inside the aid ship stormed by Israeli forces on 9 June 2025. Photo: BBC
    Israeli forces stormed aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg bound for Gaza: Freedom Flotilla Coalition
  • Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases
    Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases

Related News

  • South Korea President Lee's election law violation hearing postponed indefinitely: court
  • Rizwana calls for global unity for sustainable plastic use and zero-carbon future
  • South Korea's new leader to seek more time for US trade talks
  • South Korea's new President Lee vows to revive democracy from 'near demise'
  • Liberal Lee Jae-myung projected to win South Korea election overshadowed by martial law crisis

Features

File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

1d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

2d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

5d | Panorama
(From left) Sadia Haque, Sylvana Quader Sinha and Tasfia Tasbin. Sketch: TBS

Meet the women driving Bangladesh’s startup revolution

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Khadi in a New Form Amid Various Crises in Fashion

Khadi in a New Form Amid Various Crises in Fashion

47m | TBS Stories
US and China to meet in London for trade talks

US and China to meet in London for trade talks

14h | TBS World
The forbidden point on Cox's Bazar beach is like a death trap

The forbidden point on Cox's Bazar beach is like a death trap

16h | TBS Today
Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

18h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net