Japan has launched a rocket carrying a government intelligence satellite to monitor the movement of military facilities in North Korea and improve disaster response. This was reported by Associated Press.

The spacecraft was launched by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. from the Tanegashima Cosmodrome in southwestern Japan.


According to the information, the satellite can take pictures even in severe weather conditions.


The launch became especially important in the context of the previous failure of the test flight of the new flagship H3 rocket, developed jointly by Mitsubishi Heavy and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The first test flight of this missile took place last year and failed.


The H2A rocket, which is liquid-fueled and has two solid-fuel sub-rockets, has already made 41 successful launches since its failure in 2003, with a 98% success rate.