South Korea successfully launched its third military reconnaissance satellite, equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, on Saturday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite entered orbit 50 minutes after liftoff aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and established communication with ground control nearly three hours later. It marks the latest step in the country’s “425 Project” to deploy a network of five medium-to-large surveillance satellites.

The SAR-equipped satellite ensures high-resolution imaging capabilities under all-weather conditions, day or night, complementing South Korea’s existing reconnaissance systems. Once fully operational after months of testing, the satellite will enhance the military’s ability to monitor North Korea’s missile and nuclear activities in near real-time.