South Korean spy satellite transmitting high-quality images of Pyongyang, says sources

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying South Korea's first domestically developed military spy satellite takes off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Dec. 2. [SPACEX]

South Korea's first domestically developed spy satellite succeeded in sending high-quality images of Pyongyang back home during a test transmission, according to military sources Sunday.

The electro-optical and infrared satellite is the first of five South Korean plans to launch into orbit by 2025 to conduct regular reconnaissance on the North.

The satellite that transmitted images of the North Korean capital was launched into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Dec. 2.

According to a military source, the resolution of photos sent by the satellite is “as good as expected,” though the images require heavy editing.

The source also noted that “central Pyongyang and vessels at port are clearly visible,” indicating that the test transmission had succeeded.

While officials have declined to specify which North Korean military and government facilities were captured in the test transmission, central Pyongyang is the location of Government Complex No. 1, the secure compound that houses regime leader Kim Jong-un’s office, the headquarters of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, State Affairs Commission and several apartment buildings reserved for senior party and government officials.

The satellite is expected to transmit higher-resolution images beginning next month, according to other sources.

Another source said the satellite will “likely begin conducting its full reconnaissance mission by June or July as planned.”

South Korea aims to launch four more synthetic aperture radar satellites into orbit by 2025 as part of its 1.2-trillion-won ($927 million) 425 satellite project to create an independent reconnaissance system that can provide regular updates on the North at two-hour intervals.

The country has long relied on U.S. commercial and spy satellites for high-resolution photographic intelligence on North Korea.

According to Seoul’s Defense Ministry in December, the satellite launch “will lay the groundwork for enhanced South Korean military capabilities in space and help accumulate operational knowledge to usher domestic satellite development in the expanding security domain of space.”

The ministry also said it intends to incorporate the planned South Korean spy satellite network into a “left of launch” strategy to hobble or strike North Korean missiles before liftoff or during the first seconds of flight.

The announcement on the South Korean satellite’s test transmission comes amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, which have been exacerbated by the North’s multiple cruise missile launches in January and February, as well as the success of the North’s own spy satellite launch on Nov. 22.

The North previously conducted two failed attempts to launch a spy satellite into orbit in May and August last year.

South Korea has attributed the success of the North’s satellite launch to technological assistance it received from Russia in exchange for arms shipments to support the latter’s invasion of Ukraine.

While Pyongyang’s state media has since reported that the new North Korean satellite took photos of key U.S. military and government facilities in South Korea, Guam, Hawaii and Washington, D.C., it has not released images allegedly taken by the satellite.

In a press conference last week, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik told reporters he doubts the North’s claims that the satellite is capable of conducting reconnaissance on South Korea and major U.S. military bases in and around the region.

“It shows no signs of functioning and is merely orbiting without activity,” he said, while warning that Russian technology transfers to North Korea could increase if Moscow continues to require North Korean arms.

U.S. and South Korean intelligence have warned of increased arms shipments from the North to Russia since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]