William Ruden-Sella reports on South Korea’s new plans to develop surveillance satellites that will monitor the Korean border
By William Ruden-Sella Credit: The Myriad News
Missile guidelines revised
On July 28th, South Korea and the United States agreed to loosen their joint missile guidelines. Since 1979, the U.S. has restricted the type of missiles Seoul can develop because of concern over a regional arms race ensuing. With the guidelines revised, the South Korean government is now able to use solid fuel for space launch vehicles, offering their missiles and rockets greater mobility and reduced launch preparation time.
The revisions to the guidelines have raised speculation as to whether the deal involved prior negotiations about the price of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Mr. Trump has asserted he wants South Korea to massively increase its annual payment of $866 million to cover the 28,000 U.S. troops installed in the country. He accuses South Korea of not spending enough money for its defense. Nevertheless, according to Kim Hyun-jong, a Korean senior national security aide, the changes to the missile deal did not involve negotiations over how much South Korea should pay the U.S. for keeping troops in the country.
The revisions will allow South Korea to increase its military intelligence, surveillance capabilities, and will allow expansion into the growing space industry. Mr. Kim specifically highlighted that with the revision South Korea will launch low-orbit surveillance satellites flying between the altitude of 500-2,000 kilometers.
Usage of spy satellites
South Korea will use the satellites to “[monitor] the Korean Peninsula from the sky 24 hours a day,” which will create an “unblinking eye” of surveillance, Kim said. Previously, U.S. spy satellites were used to monitor North Korea because of the restricting missile deal. Now, though, as the U.S. continues to question keeping U.S. troops in South Korea and as North Korea’s military capabilities grow, the spy satellites will allow South Korea to defend themselves.
Lee Choon Geun, a missile expert at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute, said South Korea could operate two to three low-orbit spy satellites to monitor North Korea. He emphasized that using solid fuels for the satellites are easier to handle and will make launching the satellites more efficient. The national news agency Yonhap reported that South Korea plans on deploying five spy satellites by 2023.
Satellites incite controversy in North Korea
After South Korea announced its plan to construct satellites to monitor the Korean Peninsula, North Korean propaganda outlets criticized the move as a contradictory act. They highlighted how the lifted missile restrictions enhance South Korea’s military presence even though South Korean authorities have repeatedly stressed the phrase “dialogue and peace”. Although propaganda sites have criticized South Korea’s actions, official North Korean media has remained silent. North Korea has reduced its criticism of South Korea since its announcement to suspend military action against the South in June.