Japan is considering revising its "Space Basic Law" to allow for the creation of an executive-level Space Strategy Headquarters that would promote the use of space for self-defense purposes. The move is seen as a response to the growing threat from North Korea.
The Japanese space agency used an H-IIA rocket Saturday to successfully place a radar satellite in orbit to complete Japan's spy system for full global coverage.
Japan prepared to launch its third intelligence-gathering satellite on Monday, enhancing its ability to monitor neighbouring North Korea two months after Pyongyang shocked the region with a barrage of missile tests.
Japan is actively increasing its role in military space by jointly developing missile defense systems, new generations of military spy satellites, and planning for manned stations on the moon. The author argues that these developments risk igniting an arms race with China.
The U.S. is showing reluctance to provide Japan with a system that would give it missile-launch data directly from a U.S. early-warning satellite, complicating Japan's plans to deploy Aegis missile defense cruisers.
Six months after being launched, Japan?s first two spy satellites are monitoring nuclear activities and missile sites in North Korea.
Japan has announced that it intends to launch a second pair of spy satellites that will boost its surveillance of missiles in hardline communist North Korea.
Amateur astronomers have established that the newly launched Japanese spy satellites are indeed being used to spy on North Korean territory.
The author examines the reasons behind Japan's decision to launch its own spy satellites and looks at some of the problems they face in trying to build an indigenous satellite intelligence capability.
North Korea warned that Japan would face "self-destruction" if it puts a spy satellite into orbit.