In a recent development, North Korea's attempt to put another spy satellite into orbit has ended in failure, as state media reports that the rocket carrying the satellite exploded in mid-air, possibly due to engine failure. The launch occurred on Monday evening after the nation's announcement drew strong criticism from neighboring countries.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected a launch trajectory believed to be of a spy satellite fired from North Korea's main space center in the northeast at 10:44 p.m. on Monday. According to a statement issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the North Korean rocket was launched towards the south, off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula. Just four minutes after the launch, numerous fragments were spotted in the waters nearby. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are currently analyzing the data to determine if the launch was successful.

Earlier on Monday, North Korea had notified Japan's coast guard about its plans to launch a satellite rocket within a launch window from Monday through June 3. Following the launch, the Japanese Prime Minister's Office lifted a missile alert that was issued for the island of Okinawa, stating that the missile was not believed to be headed towards their region.

Last year, North Korea successfully sent its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit, as part of its efforts to establish a space-based surveillance network to counter what it perceives as increasing U.S.-led military threats. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had expressed intentions to launch three additional military spy satellites by 2024. However, the recent attempt follows two previous failed liftoffs.

In the previous attempts, the first rocket carrying the satellite crashed into the ocean soon after liftoff, with the authorities attributing the failure to a loss of thrust after the separation of its first and second stages. During the second attempt, an error in the emergency blasting system during the third-stage flight was reported.

Notably, the United Nations prohibits North Korea from conducting any satellite launches, viewing them as disguises for testing long-range missile technology. Despite this ban, North Korea has maintained its right to launch satellites and test missiles, with Kim asserting that the spy satellites will enhance their military's capability to monitor U.S. and South Korean activities, thereby bolstering the threat posed by their nuclear-capable missiles.

It is significant to mention that North Korea provides Japan with its launch information because Japan's coast guard coordinates and distributes maritime safety information in East Asia.

The failure of North Korea's recent spy satellite launch highlights the ongoing tensions in the region regarding its missile and nuclear capabilities. While the world watches closely, the implications of this failed attempt will undoubtedly shape the discussions and actions taken by neighboring nations in the days to come.