Asia’s space race: Korean rivalry, US alliance go into orbit with militarisation of new frontier

The November 30 launch in tandem with SpaceX is the first of five spy satellites Seoul plans to put into orbit by 2025 to form its own surveillance system over North Korea

South Korea’s partnership with the US is expected to yield military and economic security, and drive domestic space markets

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Flags of North Korea (rear) and South Korea from the border area between the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea. South Korea plans to launch its first home-grown spy satellite at the end of November. File photo: AP

Published: 12:00pm, 18 Nov 2023

Asia’s space race is intensifying with South Korea set to launch its first home-grown military satellite mounted on a SpaceX rocket, while the North claims it has carried out successful tests of solid-fuel engines for a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).

Seoul has hinted at growing geopolitics that have extended into orbit, noting its partnership with the United States would form a “space alliance” yielding military and economic security, as well as technological advancement.

Analysts also point to an uptick in military satellite launches in Asia, noting the spillover effect would be in the development of commercial space technologies that would drive domestic markets for the sector.

The launch by South Korea in tandem with billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX marks the first of five domestic spy satellites Seoul plans to put into orbit by 2025, to form its own space surveillance system over North Korea, breaking from past tradition of total reliance on US spy satellites to monitor its rival.

The South Korean spy satellite will be carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base on November 30, according to its defence ministry.

Lee Choon-geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute, said American spy satellites produced much higher-resolution imagery but were operated under the US’ strategic objectives.

He said the US sometimes did not share satellite photos containing highly sensitive information with South Korea.

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