South Korea To Lease Reconnaissance Satellite From Israel

South Korea plans to lease a reconnaissance satellite most likely from Israel to self obtain information on North Korea’s military activities.

Israel uses its spy satellites mainly to monitor Middle East regions, it may be practical for South Korea to secure operating rights during periods when the satellite passes over the Korean peninsula.

Currently South Korea relies on US operated reconnaissance satellites especially when it is about core military information involving North Korea’s Nuclear and missile related moves.

Seoul is aiming to boost its indigenous satellite that will permit Seoul to closely monitor military activities in North Korea but is unlikely to have anything on a par with today's US and Israeli satellites until about 2023.

Faced with increasing nuclear and missile threats by the North, the government is looking to lease a reconnaissance satellite from Israel or other foreign countries, the official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency Tuesday.

Besides satellites and missiles, Seoul as part of the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system plans to operate a total of four early-warning radars by around 2020 to counter the North's submarine-launched ballistic missiles. KAMD is designed to detect and destroy incoming missiles and other aerial threats, the military said.

North Korea has carried five nuclear tests in the past decade. It has launched a series of missiles, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile which can US territories in the Pacific like Guam.