Article Posted on : - Sep 23, 2011

A file photo.

TOKYO (BNS): Japan on Friday launched a military satellite in a move to keep vigil over North Korea.

The new Information Gathering Satellite (IGS), known as Optical-4, was launched by an H-2A rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Japan has already launched three such satellites in the wake of a missile launch by North Korea, and the latest one will replace the No. 2 satellite which is nearing the end of its service life, the official Kyodo news agency said.

The new satellite has been jointly developed by The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited at a cost of 34.7 billion yen (USD 470 million).

The spy sat is capable of capturing images in day light and in clear weather. It can also help gather data on geographical impacts of natural disasters.