SEOUL - South Korea's military has issued a warning to North Korea, cautioning against its planned spy satellite launch. The South Korean military has suggested that it could suspend an inter-Korean agreement to reduce tensions and resume front-line aerial surveillance in response.

North Korea has previously made two unsuccessful attempts to put a military spy satellite into orbit this year, but failed on both occasions. However, there are indications that a launch may be imminent, as South Korean officials suspect North Korea is receiving Russian technology assistance.

Senior South Korean military officer, Kang Hopil, stated in a televised statement, "Our military will come up with necessary measures to protect the lives and safety of the people, if North Korea pushes ahead with a military spy satellite launch despite our warning."

South Korean Defense Minister, Shin Wonsik, revealed in an interview with public broadcaster KBS that the launch is expected to take place later this month. He added that South Korean and U.S. authorities are closely monitoring North Korea's actions.

The United Nations Security Council has banned any satellite launches by North Korea, as they view them as a disguised test of its missile technology. Kang stated that while North Korea may claim it needs a spy satellite to enhance its monitoring capabilities of South Korea, the launch is also intended to bolster its long-range missile program.

Foreign governments and experts have raised concerns that North Korea is seeking Russian technologies to enhance its nuclear and military capabilities. There have been allegations of an arms transfer deal between the two nations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un notably visited Russia's main space launch center earlier this year, expressing a keen interest in rocket technology.

Defense Minister Shin mentioned that North Korea has likely overcome an engine problem with the help of Russia. As a result, a successful launch of a North Korean spy satellite is expected before November 30 when South Korea is planning to launch its first military spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

In response to North Korea's provocations, South Korea has hinted at possible retaliatory measures, which may include the resumption of aerial surveillance activities and live-fire drills at border areas. These actions would breach the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at easing front-line tensions.

Kang emphasized that North Korea has already violated the agreement multiple times, including the destruction of an unoccupied inter-Korean liaison office, the flying of drones into South Korea, and live-fire drills along the maritime boundary.

The 2018 military agreement, reached during a period of improved relations between South Korea's then-President Moon Jae-in and Kim, established buffer and no-fly zones along the border. Both Koreas also removed some front-line guard posts and land mines.

However, relations between the two nations have since strained following the breakdown of nuclear diplomacy between Kim and former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. North Korea has since focused on expanding its nuclear arsenal, leading South Korea's current conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, to increase military drills with the United States.

The suspension of the 2018 agreement, warned by Yoon's liberal rivals, may provide North Korea with another opportunity to engage in provocation. Last week, North Korea announced a successful test of solid-fuel engines for a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, indicating its efforts to expand its arsenal of mobile and harder-to-detect missiles targeting the United States and its allies.