A Quick Look at North Korea: Our Military's Information Assets [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

When Military Reconnaissance Satellites Are Reinforced, Surveillance of the Entire North Korean Territory Is Possible Even on Cloudy Days
Global Hawk and Reconnaissance Aircraft Can Strengthen Blind Spots in Surveillance

Our military will launch the second military reconnaissance satellite on the 8th. Until now, it has relied solely on U.S. intelligence assets, but by securing independent reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities, it will be able to detect unusual activities in North Korea and also expedite the transfer of wartime operational control.

According to the military, a total of five reconnaissance satellites will be launched by next year, enabling the capability to reconnoiter specific points in North Korea every two hours. The five reconnaissance satellites are not all the same. The first reconnaissance satellite is equipped with electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) imaging equipment. Satellites 2 through 5 are equipped with high-performance synthetic aperture radar (SAR). SAR satellites create images by synthesizing signal data reflected back after electromagnetic waves are sent to ground targets, allowing observation regardless of weather conditions. EO and IR satellites can secure clearer images than SAR satellites but their missions can be limited on heavily cloudy days. Reconnaissance satellites 3 to 5, which will be launched by next year, are all SAR satellites.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition, the military plans to operationalize about 40 ultra-small satellites weighing less than 100 kg by 2030, shortening the revisit cycle over the Korean Peninsula to within 30 minutes. Once all reconnaissance satellites begin normal operations, the military’s independent surveillance capabilities to track the movements of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other North Korean leadership, as well as North Korean military activities, are expected to be significantly enhanced.

Even with military satellites secured, the frontline areas will be monitored by existing surveillance equipment owned by the military. These include the Global Hawk (RQ-4), Geumgang and Baekdu (RC-800), and Saemae (RF-16) reconnaissance aircraft. They complement each other by covering surveillance blind spots.

New Baekdu Reconnaissance Aircraft Developed through the Baekdu System Capability Enhancement Project

Our military has independently collected video intelligence over North Korean inland areas using the Global Hawk. It has introduced a video intelligence processing system (target imaging → interpretation → information transmission) to acquire and interpret video intelligence. However, the Global Hawk has its drawbacks. It cannot continuously shoot images. It takes 60 seconds to capture one image. To capture about 2,500 images covering the entire North Korean territory, it takes more than 40 hours.

It also lacks signal collection equipment. To compensate for this, the military simultaneously utilizes reconnaissance aircraft such as Geumgang and Baekdu (RC-800) and Saemae (RF-16). The RF-16, nicknamed "Saemae," flies near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and Northern Limit Line (NLL), collecting video intelligence related to North Korean forces. Additionally, the Baekdu reconnaissance aircraft, upgraded in 2017, can detect North Korean electronic intelligence (Elint) and communications intelligence (Comint), capturing equipment operations such as radar activation and the content of wired and wireless communications. Through these surveillance assets, video intelligence is collected from South Korean airspace to the area between Nampo and Hamhung in North Korea.

Reconnaissance Satellite No. 2 Equipped with High-Performance Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

If military satellites are added to this, it will be possible to acquire strategic information such as missile and nuclear activities and movements of war command units north of Nampo and Hamhung. It will also allow a comprehensive understanding of the deployment status of medium- and long-range weapons such as long-range artillery and ballistic missiles deep within the northern side of the Military Demarcation Line. This forms the cornerstone of the three-axis system’s kill chain. The kill chain is an integrated strike system that neutralizes North Korean nuclear facilities and mobile nuclear missiles within 30 minutes. Specifically, South Korea and the U.S. use reconnaissance satellites and reconnaissance aircraft to detect threats within one minute, identify them within one minute, decide on a strike within three minutes based on the acquired information, and complete the strike on the target within 25 minutes.

The U.S. military also holds a list of more than 25,000 military and non-military facilities in North Korea. Based on this list, South Korea and the U.S. attack deep targets in North Korea in case of emergency. The points to be attacked during wartime are called Joint Defense Point of Intercept (JDPI). In 2016, the two countries selected about 700 JDPI sites, including North Korea’s “biological weapons source sites.” As launch methods diversified, including the North Korean railway mobile missile regiment launching ballistic missiles from trains, various target sites were included.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.