{
  "id": 15707132,
  "title": "Korea to launch military satellites aboard homegrown Nuri rocket in 2031",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/korea-to-launch-military-satellites-aboard-homegrown-nuri-rocket-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T05:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20261020/korea-to-launch-military-satellites-aboard-homegrown-nuri-rocket-in-2031"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Korean aerospace agency has announced plans to launch military reconnaissance satellites into space using the country's own Nuri rocket by 2031, according to a report on Tuesday. The initiative aims to enhance the nation's space surveillance capabilities. This announcement was made by Oh Tae-seok, the administrator of the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), during a Cabinet meeting. This plan was revealed following the successful fifth launch of Nuri earlier this month, which successfully deployed five Earth observation microsatellites into orbit.\n\nThe strategic plan includes at least one Nuri rocket launch each year until 2032. The 11th launch of Nuri, scheduled for 2031, will be carrying four electro-optical (EO) reconnaissance microsatellites. Previously, Korea had been dependent on foreign launch vehicles to deploy its military satellites. The 12th launch of Nuri, planned for 2032, will carry three companion satellites that are designed to operate in tandem with the Arirang 8 multipurpose satellite. This satellite is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that can capture images irrespective of weather conditions or daylight.\n\nIn addition to the Nuri rockets' role in military satellite deployment, KASA also plans to launch five more Earth observation microsatellites in the second half of 2027.",
  "summary": "Korea plans to launch military reconnaissance satellites aboard its homegrown Nuri rocket in 2031 to bolster its space surveillance capabilities, the aerospace agency said Tuesday. Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), unveiled the plan during a Cabinet meeting following Nuri's successful fifth launch earlier this month, which placed five Earth observation…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "S. Korea to launch military satellites aboard homegrown Nuri rocket in 2031",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/s-korea-to-launch-military-satellites-aboard-homegrown-nuri-rocket-in",
        "published": "2026-10-20T05:05:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}