The South Korean military plans to launch five reconnaissance satellites into orbit by 2023 to strengthen surveillance of North Korea.

Under a revised military satellite development plan by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration(DAPA), contractors for the reconnaissance satellites will be chosen within the year.

The plan would add a layer of defense to the country’s three-pillar defense capacity consisting of the “Kill Chain” preemptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense(KAMD) system and the Korean Massive Punishment and Retaliation(KMPR) plan.