Seoul: South Korea's fourth homegrown military spy satellite was launched from a U.S. space base in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The launch marks a significant step in South Korea's efforts to bolster its surveillance capabilities in the region.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Falcon 9 lifted off at 8:48 p.m. Monday (U.S. time) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, adhering to the pre-established schedule. This satellite is part of a strategic initiative to deploy a total of five spy satellites by the end of the year, aimed at enhancing monitoring of North Korea.

South Korea has been progressively expanding its satellite program, having launched its first spy satellite in December 2023, followed by two additional launches last year. The deployment of these satellites is critical for South Korea's national security and intelligence-gathering objectives.