After North Korea, rival South Korea also launches its spy Satellite

Little over a week after North Korea claimed to put its own spy satellite into orbit for the first time, South Korea also launched its first military spy satellite into space on Friday. (Image source: PTI)
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Launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, it was the first of five spy satellites South Korea plans to send into space by 2025 under a contract with SpaceX (Image source: AP)
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Earlier, South Korea had no military reconnaissance satellites of its own in space and has partially resorted to the United States' spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea. South Korea's Defence Ministry described the launch as successful, saying the satellite had communicated with an overseas ground station. (Image source: IANS)

A ministry statement said the launch allowed the South Korean military to acquire an independent space-based surveillance system. It said the satellite would also help bolster the military's preemptive missile strike capability, a key part of its so-called three-axis system that includes missile defense and massive retaliatory capabilities. (Image source: AP)

After two launch failures earlier this year, North Korea said it successfully placed its Malligyong-1 spy satellite into orbit last week. North Korea has since said its satellite had transmitted imagery with space views of key sites in US and South Korea, including White House and Pentagon. Although, it hasn't released any satellite images yet. (Image source: AP)

The North Korean satellite launch sparked immediate, strong condemnations from US, South Korea and others. Multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions ban any satellite launches by North Korea, viewing them as covers for testing its long-range missile technology. (Image source: AP)

North Korea responded angrily, saying it has sovereign rights to launch spy satellites to cope with what it calls increasing US hostilities. It said it would also launch additional ones. North Korea's Defence ministry also threatened to take unspecified steps to eliminate or undermine the capabilities of US spy satellites in protest. (Image source: ANI)

North Korea's satellite launch has inflamed animosities between the two Koreas, with the rivals taking steps to breach a previous military agreement meant to ease front-line military tensions. (Image source: ANI)

South Korea, US and Japan have accused North Korea of seeking high-tech Russian technologies needed to enhance its military programs in return for supplying conventional arms to support Russia's war in Ukraine. (Image source: PTI)