China and India lead Asia race to expand spy satellite networks

Japan, North and South Korea also step up surveillance on growing tensions

20240117N South Korea satellite launch

A rocket carrying South Korea's first military surveillance satellite launches from the U.S. in December 2023. (South Korean Defense Ministry)

JUNNOSUKE KOBARA, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL -- Faced with an increasingly complex security environment, China, India and other Asian countries are bolstering satellite networks to monitor military moves in the region.

Reconnaissance satellites observe developments -- from troop movements to missile launches -- at an altitude of 500 kilometers. The information can help countries accurately target enemy assets during a military conflict.

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