Japan hopes to launch two more satellites to aid spying on North Korea

Japan plans to send two more spy satellites into orbit by March 31, 2007, to strengthen the monitoring of movements in North Korea, notably its missile and nuclear development facilities, according to government sources.

If successful, Japan will have a total of four spy satellites in operation, together capable of taking a photo of any ground spot in North Korea once a day, up from the current once every two days.

Two spy satellites were placed in orbit with the domestically developed H-IIA rocket for the first time in March 2003.

But H-IIA launches had been put on hold following a humiliating failure minutes after liftoff in November 2003. Controllers had to detonate that rocket and its payload of two spy satellites in midair after a booster failed to detach.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getart...n20060110b1.htm

no, it's supposed to spy on other neighbouring countries also not just NK.

But they can say it's for NK.

yeah, but from the newspaper i read, they say it's for neighbouring countries and that's include china.

I think this is old news.

I hope this does not lead to spy satellite toilet cams.

North Korea is giving an excellent excuse for Japan to develop its military capabilities. Shameful.

Shameful? I don't think so. The proper word is convienient.

Shameful was meant for Kim Jungil.

The JSDF is strong enough as it is.

Are you kidding? They need a military that can take over continents...for umm, defense of course. You know, a good offense is the best defense.

What about their elite special force units of emotionless teenagers who pilot giant robots?