North Korea made its third attempt to launch its first spy satellite into orbit, according to South Korea and Japan. The launch, which may have involved a ballistic missile, prompted Japan to issue a brief advisory in the southern prefecture of Okinawa, urging residents to stay indoors or seek shelter underground. The missile is believed to have landed in the Pacific Ocean. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korea had fired what appeared to be a spy satellite toward the south.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launch, stating that the use of ballistic missile technology violates United Nations resolutions and poses a potential threat to national security. Earlier, North Korea had informed Japan of its plans to launch the satellite between Wednesday and December 1. Previous attempts to launch the satellite in May and August were unsuccessful.

In response, South Korea is also planning to launch its own spy satellite by the end of the month. The country aims to develop its military capabilities in space and has a project in place to deploy five reconnaissance satellites by 2025.

It is noteworthy that North Korea’s repeated attempts to launch a spy satellite have been met with international concern due to the potential dual-use nature of the technology. The launches are seen by many countries as provocative acts that escalate tensions in the region. The international community continues to monitor North Korea’s actions closely and assess their implications.