North Korea launches rocket likely carrying new spy satellite

North Korea has reportedly fired a rocket believed to be its second military spy satellite just hours after its plan was met with criticism from neighbouring countries.

According to South Korea's joint chiefs of staff, the suspected spy satellite was launched from North Korea's primary space facility in the northeast at 10.44pm local time on Monday (May 27), following a trajectory that suggests espionage capabilities.

In a statement, the joint chiefs detailed that the North Korean projectile was fired southwards from the peninsula's west coast and that, shortly after launch, multiple fragments were observed falling into the sea, prompting further analysis by South Korean and US intelligence to determine the success of the mission.

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Earlier that day, North Korea had informed Japan's coast guard of its intention to send "a satellite rocket" into space sometime between Monday and June 3.

Following the launch, Japanese authorities rescinded a missile alert for Okinawa, having assessed that the missile posed no threat to the region.

Last November, North Korea claimed to have successfully orbited its inaugural military reconnaissance satellite, aiming to establish a space-based monitoring system amid what it perceives as escalating military challenges led by the United States.

Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, subsequently announced at a party meeting the plan to deploy three more military spy satellites by 2024, as part of the country's expanding surveillance efforts. This latest launch comes after two previous attempts that failed to reach orbit.

In the initial attempt, the North Korean rocket carrying the