North Korea preparing missile tests and spy satellite launch, says South Korea

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) told officials in a closed-door meeting that North Korea may try to launch a spy satellite in late August or early September ahead of the country’s 75th anniversary on September 9

An object salvaged by South Korea’s military is presumed to be part of the North Korean space-launch vehicle that crashed into sea following a launch failure (South Korea Defence Ministry via AP)

North Korea is preparing its second attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit as well as tests of long-range missiles to mark a key national anniversary and protest efforts by the United States to strengthen its regional alliances, South Korea’s intelligence service said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been expected to conduct weapons tests in response to major US-South Korean military drills that begin next week and a trilateral US-South Korea-Japan summit at Camp David in the United States this Friday.