Scrapping of 2018 military peace deal between the two Koreas does not mean war

TOPSHOT - This picture taken and released on November 22, 2023 from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows a view (screens digitally blurred as received from source) of the Pyongyang General Control Centre of the Korean National Aerospace Technology Directorate, a day after the launch of a rocket carrying the reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyong-1', in Pyongyang. North Korea said on November 22 it had succeeded in putting a military spy satellite in orbit after two previous failures, as the US led its allies in condemning the launch as a "brazen violation" of UN sanctions. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP) / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT -- NOTE: Digital blurring of screens done at source-- ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE --- /

The control centre of North Korea’s space agency a day after Pyongyang’s launch of the spy satellite Malligyong-1.

PHOTO: AFP

Wendy Teo

SEOUL - The race between the two Koreas to launch their first spy satellites into orbit has spiralled into heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula.

On the night of Nov 21, Pyongyang launched a home-grown spy satellite, ignoring warnings by Seoul that the move was in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. South Korea is slated to launch its own satellite on Nov 30.

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