SKorea to launch communications satellite in August

SKorea to launch communications satellite in August

The "Mugunghwa 5" satellite, also designed for civilian use, will be launched Aug. 10 from a vessel in the South Pacific, an official at the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The official, who refused to be named due to office protocol, said the satellite would be used for enhancing the communications network for the military, and not for surveillance, the AP reports.

The satellite was developed by France's Alcatel SA and will be jointly managed by the Defense Ministry and South Korea's largest telecom company KT once in orbit, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Since 1992, South Korea has launched eight satellites, mostly for space and ocean observation and communications.