North Korea Informs Japan of 2nd Satellite Launch, Possibly Affecting Philippines

The newly developed Chollima-1 rocket carrying the Malligyong-1 satellite is launched from the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Tongch'ang-ri, North Korea, on May 31, 2023. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

North Korea has notified Japan of its intention to launch a satellite between Aug. 24 and Aug. 31, which could affect three “danger areas,” including the East Philippines, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

The Japan Coast Guard received a notification from North Korea on Aug. 22, saying it aimed to designate three maritime areas—off the Korean Peninsula’s west coast, in the East China Sea, and east of the Philippine island of Luzon—as danger zones, Kyodo News reported.

These three areas fall beyond the limits of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, according to the Coast Guard.

Japan Coast Guard spokesperson Hiromune Kikuchi said the notice did not specify the type of satellite North Korea intends to launch but that he believes it possibly refers to one similar to the spy satellite in the May launch.

He was referring to North Korea’s previous launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on May 31, which crashed into the West Sea of Korea shortly after takeoff due to an engine malfunction.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he had instructed officials to coordinate with the United States, South Korea, and other concerned nations to urge North Korea not to conduct the launch.

The Japanese leader also urged authorities to “take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of the Japanese people, including fully preparing for contingencies,” according to his office.

South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said North Korea’s satellite launch would violate the United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting the country from launching any ballistic missile technology.

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on April 13, 2023. - North Korea fired a ballistic missile on April 13, Seoul's military said, prompting Japan to briefly issue a seek shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images

“We deeply regret that despite repeated warnings from the international community, North Korea has once again announced its intention to conduct the launch. We urge them to immediately withdraw the plan,” the spokesperson said, according to Yonhap News Agency.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry stated that the government will tackle North Korea’s “illegal provocative acts” through coordinated efforts involving the United States and Japan.

The Philippines has yet to issue any statement regarding the launch.

US to Take ‘All Necessary Measures’

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to defending its people and allies and vowed to take “all necessary measures” to counter North Korea’s provocations while working closely with Japan and South Korea.

“I will say that, as always, we will stand with our Japanese and our ROK allies in the face of North Korea’s continued provocations, to include their claimed space program,” Pentagon press secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Aug. 22, referring to South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.

The launch plan comes during annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that began on Aug. 21. North Korea views the regular U.S.-South Korean military exercises as a rehearsal for invading it and is expected to extend its provocative run of missile tests in reaction to the exercises.

Washington has reiterated that its joint exercises with South Korea are defensive in nature and designed to enhance alliance commitments in ensuring stability in the region.

This also followed a trilateral meeting between the U.S., Japanese, and South Korean leaders at Camp David on Aug. 18, during which they agreed to hold trilateral military training exercises annually and to share real-time information on North Korean missile launches.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said that having an operational military reconnaissance satellite would be crucial for North Korea to cope with the “most hostile rhetoric and explicit action” by the United States and South Korea.

Since the start of 2022, North Korea has carried out more than 100 weapons tests, some of them involving nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike the U.S. mainland, South Korea, and Japan.

Andrew Thornebrooke and The Associated Press contributed to this report.