SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea is set to complete its first military reconnaissance satellite network this weekend with the launch of a rocket carrying its fifth and final satellite under its “425 Project."
The Ministry of National Defense said Friday that the rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2 p.m. (KST) on Nov. 2.
Once operational, the five-satellite constellation will allow South Korea to monitor North Korean military movements with far greater speed and precision, enhancing the country’s “kill chain” — a preemptive strike capability that forms a core pillar of its defense system.
The 425 Project is named for the Korean pronunciations of one electro-optical, infrared satellite and four synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. The first satellite was launched in December 2023 and became operational the following August. Subsequent SAR satellites were launched in April and December 2024 and in April 2025, with three of them now fully operational.
The project is part of South Korea’s broader effort to reduce reliance on U.S. intelligence assets and to build independent reconnaissance capacity.
Unlike optical sensors, SAR technology can capture high-resolution images regardless of weather or lighting conditions, enabling round-the-clock surveillance. Once the network is complete, the system will be capable of revisiting specific sites in North Korea every two hours, according to the ministry.
Jeong Kyu-heon, who heads the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s Future Power Project Division, said the launch represents a turning point in South Korea’s space defense capabilities.
“After securing the military reconnaissance satellite system, we will continue advancing micro-satellite development and establishing the infrastructure needed for space operations, including launch facilities and technology,” he said.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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