SEOUL: South Korea’s military said on Friday (May 24) it had detected signs in North Korea of possible preparations for a satellite launch in what would be the nuclear-armed North’s effort to place a second military reconnaissance craft in orbit.
South Korea and US intelligence authorities are closely monitoring North Korea’s activities, a South Korean military official said.
The activities were spotted at Dongchang-ri, a northwestern area of the country where North Korea’s main space flight centre is based, the official said without elaborating.
North Korea launched its first spy satellite last year and claimed leader Kim Jong Un reviewed photos taken of the White House and the Pentagon, among other areas of the world. State media have not released any photos taken by the craft, however.
The launch was met with sanctions from the US and its allies and prompted Seoul to suspend part of a military agreement it signed with Pyongyang in 2018.
