If carried out, it would mark a third attempt by the nuclear-armed state this year to put a spy satellite into orbit. Two previous attempts to place what would be North Korea's first spy satellite into orbit failed, and after the last attempt in August, North Korea's scientists had promised to try again in October. Following North Korea's notice of the satellite launch, the Japanese Prime Minister's office said on social media X that the country would work with the U.S., South Korea and others to "strongly urge" North Korea not to go ahead with it. North Korea launched a satellite on May 31 that ended up plunging into the sea. The U.S. and its allies have called North Korea's tests of satellite systems a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit any development of technology applicable to North Korea's ballistic missile programmes.

Source: The Hindu November 21, 2023 16:13 UTC