(LEAD) S. Korea warns N. Korea to 'immediately stop' preparations for military spy satellite launch

▲ This photo provided by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on June 1, 2023, shows the launch of the North's new Chollima-1 rocket, allegedly carrying a military reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, from Tongchang-ri on the North's west coast at 6:29 a.m. the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ Lt. Gen. Kang Ho-pil, chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issues a warning against North Korea's potential launch of a military spy satellite at the defense ministry headquarters in central Seoul on Nov. 20, 2023, in this photo captured from the government's online briefing website. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) S Korea-NK satellite launch

(LEAD) S. Korea warns N. Korea to 'immediately stop' preparations for military spy satellite launch

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; ADDS byline)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military warned North Korea on Monday to "immediately stop" preparations for another military spy satellite launch, vowing to take "necessary measures" if it presses ahead with the launch.

Lt. Gen. Kang Ho-pil, chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), made the warning, a day after South Korea's defense chief said Pyongyang may make another satellite launch attempt as early as "this week or so."

"(We) sternly warn North Korea to immediately stop the 'military reconnaissance satellite' launch, of which preparations are under way," Kang said. "If North Korea goes ahead with the military reconnaissance satellite launch despite our warning, our military will come up with necessary measures to protect the lives and safety of our people."

He did not elaborate on what he meant by necessary measures, but the government is believed to be considering partially suspending a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement in case the North makes another launch.

The agreement calls for setting up buffer zones and no-fly zones near the inter-Korean border to ban artillery firing, naval drills and surveillance activities to prevent clashes between the two Koreas.

South Korea has said the agreement greatly hinders its readiness posture at a time when North Korea has repeatedly violated it over the years, rendering the 2018 agreement "in name only."

On Sunday, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said the North's launch could take place before South Korea launches its first homegrown reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 30 in an interview with public broadcaster KBS.

North Korea made two botched attempts to put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit in May and August, respectively.

Kang called the potential launch a "provocative act" that threatens South Korea's national security, pointing out it would violate U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions that ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology.

The South's warning came amid concerns over North Korea receiving technology and support for its weapons program from Russia after the rare summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

Shin said in the interview that the North is believed to have "almost resolved" its engine problems "with Russia's help."

The North blamed the two failed launches this year on technical issues, such as the "abnormal" startup of the second-stage engine in its first attempt in late May.

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