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China-Japan-Koreas
Japan Launches Satellite to Spy on Norks
2009-11-30
Japan on Saturday morning launched an intelligence-gathering satellite to spy on North Korea's military facilities. The optical satellite carries devices that can distinguish objects on the ground with a resolution of 60 cm and will supply the highest-definition photographs of all Japanese reconnaissance satellites, which have a resolution of up to 1 m.

Japan improved the definition when regulations were eased in August last year and is hoping to enhance it further to the level of American commercial satellites, which have a resolution of up to 40 cm.

Tokyo decided to develop the new satellites right after the North test-fired a long-range missile in 1998. Since then, it has launched five satellites. The latest will replace the first, launched in 2003, which has reached the end of its life cycle. Two more optical and radar satellites are to be launched by 2011.
The same rockets that launch the satellites can launch other payloads as far as Pyongyang -- or Beijing. Just saying ...
Transport Minister Seiji Maehara, who is in charge of Japan's space development, said the new optical satellite is the "core of the satellite system for Japan's security. It's important for Japan to gather intelligence on its own."

The satellite was carried by an H2A rocket developed by Japan with its own technology.
Posted by:Steve White

#5  AL-JAZEERA > HAJ PILGRIMAGE >[Video]ISLAM IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN.

Also, WMF > JAPANESE DEFENSE MINISTER: CHINA IS NO THREAT TO JAPAN; + JAPANESE SCHOLARS: CHINA SHOULD NOT KEEP THE USA OUT OF THE PROPOSED "EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY" OF NATIONS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-11-30 20:58  

#4  ION WMF > GENERAL LIANG'S VISIT TO NORTH KOREA SHOWS BEIJING STILL VIEWS NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR CRISIS AS "CONTROLLLALE". US-NATO MUST UNDERSTAND THAT, TO PROTECT IST SECURITY, CHINA IS NOT AFRAID TO UNILATERALLY SEIZE THE INITIATIVE AND TAKE OVER NORTH KOREA + IRAN DESPITE US, WESTERN POWER.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-11-30 20:39  

#3  Japan has rather quietly built one of the two neatest little space programs you never hear about. (India has the other one.) In terms of technical capabilities, they're about as good as anyone.
Posted by: Mike   2009-11-30 10:29  

#2  Don't they trust us?

Trust... but verify.
Posted by: Free Radical   2009-11-30 10:24  

#1  "the new optical satellite is the 'core of the satellite system for Japan's security. It's important for Japan to gather intelligence on its own.'"
What?!
Don't they trust us?
Posted by: Glineck and Tenille1725   2009-11-30 01:13  

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