SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s military says North Korea has launched what it claims to be a space vehicle after announcing plans to put the country’s first military surveillance satellite into orbit.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday did not provide further details about the flight. Following the launch, officials in the South Korean capital Seoul sent out alerts via public speakers and smartphones to residents to prepare to evacuate, but there were no immediate reports of damage or disruption. .
The Japan Coast Guard said on Monday that North Korea had informed it of its plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11.
A North Korean satellite launch is in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban the country from using ballistic technology because it is seen as a cover for missile tests.
