Japan says North Korea plans to launch new satellite by 4 June

North Korea wants to launch a satellite between 27 May and 4 June after launching its first spy satellite on the third attempt last November.

Here's What We Know

The Japanese Coast Guard reported that the eight-day launch window began at midnight on Sunday into Monday, and North Korea detailed three maritime danger zones near the Korean Peninsula and the Philippine island of Luzon where debris from the satellite rocket could fall. The report came on the eve of the first trilateral summit between Japan, South Korea and China in almost five years.

Following the revelation, officials from the United States, Japan, and South Korea held telephone conversations and called on Pyongyang to suspend its plans. Launching a satellite using ballistic missile technology violates United Nations resolutions, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.

North Korea, which has nuclear weapons, tested its first spy satellite in November, which was widely condemned. The United States called the launch, which took place two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a "brazen violation" of UN sanctions.

Experts say that spy satellites can significantly increase Pyongyang's intelligence capabilities, especially in the context of the conflict with South Korea. On Friday, Seoul said that South Korean and US intelligence agencies were closely monitoring alleged preparations for the launch of another military reconnaissance satellite.

Source: Aljazeera