South Korea successfully placed its fourth military reconnaissance satellite in orbit on Tuesday, advancing the country’s independence surveillance capabilities for monitoring North Korea.

The satellite lifted off at 9:48 a.m. KST (8:48 p.m. EDT on Monday) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and entered its designated orbit, the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a press release.

According to the press release, the latest launch enhances the country’s ability to detect signs of provocation from North Korea through the operation of a coordinated group of