North Korea notifies Japan of plan to launch spy satellite as early as Wednesday

Pyongyang said that the satellite will be launched in the direction of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, the Japanese Coast Guard said on Tuesday.

North Korea launches its new Chollima-1 rocket, carrying its Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite, from the Sohae Satellite launching site in Tongchang-ri on May 31. [YONHAP]

North Korea notified Japan of a plan to launch a space satellite between Wednesday and Dec. 1.

Pyongyang said that the satellite will be launched in the direction of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, the Japanese Coast Guard said on Tuesday.

This would be the third attempt by North Korea to try to launch a military spy satellite after two previous failed attempts.

The risk areas included waters southwest of North Korea and east of the Philippines in the Pacific Ocean, both outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said on Sunday that Pyongyang may attempt another satellite launch before the end of the month.

On Monday, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) warned the North to "immediately" halt preparations for another military spy satellite launch, warning of an unspecified "necessary" response if Pyongyang persists with such a launch.

The North conducted two failed attempts to launch a reconnaissance satellite into orbit in May and August.

Pyongyang initially planned to make a third launch attempt in October but didn't follow through with a launch last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his intentions to help develop North Korea's satellite program at a rare summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a spaceport in Russia's Far East in September.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]