North Korea has announced its intention to launch a rocket carrying a second military spy satellite within an eight-day window starting Monday. This move has provoked immediate and strong reactions from neighboring countries South Korea and Japan, who view it as a violation of U.N. resolutions. The timing of the announcement coincides with a significant diplomatic meeting in Seoul, where South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida were holding their first trilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in over four years.
Japan’s coast guard confirmed receiving a notification from North Korea about the planned launch, advising caution in specified maritime areas between the Korean Peninsula and China, as well as east of the main Philippine island of Luzon, from Monday until midnight on June 3. This notification is part of North Korea’s protocol to inform Japan due to the latter’s role in coordinating and distributing maritime safety information across East Asia. The planned launch has escalated tensions in the region, with concerns over security and compliance with international regulations.
