After decades of satellite surveillance by foreign governments and analysts, North Korea has sent its first spy satellite on a global orbit with a message to the world: we can watch you too.
  • Ithorian [comrade/them]
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    1 year ago

    Lol that's a great fear mongering title until you remember Google takes pictures of the white house every single day.

    • d-RLY?@lemmygrad.ml
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      1 year ago

      True, but being fair to the DPRK, Google hasn't had the most powerful nation in the world literally blocking almost all trade with them or all the sanctions. Google has been allowed to make mad money and do whatever they want more or less (at least as long as the US gov can still tap into the info), and it really isn't shocking they have what they have at this point. The DPRK was able to do this basically completely on their own despite everything. Even the US had to start with one satellite at one point. So a "fuck you" to the US is a win for the DPRK no matter how small it is when compared to rich companies.

    • freagle@lemmygrad.ml
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      1 year ago

      Google is part of the military intelligence apparatus of the Five Eyes. Th fact that DPRK can do this after being one of the top 3 most bombed countries in the history of the world is quite impressive. Consider the state of the space program in similarly bombed countries (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia) and you'll see why this is actually a big deal.

      Also of note, the DPRK has a GDP of around $40B. Alphabet (parent of Google) reported $218B in expenditures in 2022.

      DPRK having spy satellites is a marvel given those numbers

      • ComradeSalad@lemmygrad.ml
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        1 year ago

        Vietnam and Laos have had no need to build a rocket industry and nuclear power.

        Space technology is in large part a byproduct of ICBM technology. Why would any of those countries spend money investing into that?

          • ComradeSalad@lemmygrad.ml
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            1 year ago

            They require a deterrent against invasion in the case that China will not defend them.

            Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and many other countries do not face a similar threat.

                • freagle@lemmygrad.ml
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                  1 year ago

                  The US deployed 60% of its naval assets to the Pacific undet Obama. It's building up power all over the region. If you think it's impossible the USA will fuck with Vietnam et al, I think you might be assuming too much.

      • Ithorian [comrade/them]
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        1 year ago

        I'm not saying it isn't an impressive accomplishment for NK just that it isn't remotely scary.

        • freagle@lemmygrad.ml
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          1 year ago

          It's a net new military intelligence capability in the hands of an opponent. This fundamentally changes the theater, as any net new capability would. This has been understood since Sun Tzu. It's not "nuclear armageddon" scary, it's a demonstration that the USA is failing to maintain its oppressive chokehold on the world.

    • DamarcusArt@lemmygrad.ml
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      1 year ago

      Exactly, this is just a test, if they actually had decent spy satellites watching the US, they'd be watching military bases instead, and they wouldn't announce them like this. This is just standard DPRK fearmongering.

      • ComradeSalad@lemmygrad.ml
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        1 year ago

        Since the late 50’s, almost all military bases in Russia and the US (and I would assume in China and other Western countries as well) have been constructed and upgraded with “satellite cover”, meaning that pretty much anything important happens underground, in massive uniform warehouses, massive covered hangers, discrete buildings that are oftentimes featureless and identical, and in covered train terminals (many of which are also underground).

        Military bases often use lots of foliage and trees to cover roads, walking paths, and doorways.

        Spy satellites have already been countered in the way you are thinking.

        • DamarcusArt@lemmygrad.ml
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          1 year ago

          Oh, of course! Thanks for letting me know something that I probably should've figured out ages ago. They've been doing stuff like that since WW2, so there's no reason to think they'd stop.