The organization will enable the country to gird up for unpredictable incidents such as a close encounter between its science satellite and a space object last year and the crash of an unmanned Russian cargo spacecraft early this year.

“The military will now be able to forecast the passing of satellites of enemies and neighboring countries, as well as space climate conditions, and thus better support military operations in the air, on the ground and at sea,” the Air Force said in a statement.

“As all cutting-edge weapons systems currently being utilized by all military organs are based on satellite communications information including GPS, they can serve their causes only when the satellites are intact above the Earth.”

The center will also boost related cooperation with the U.S., such as by sharing information on possible collisions with cosmic objects and assisting each other’s launches of air vehicles and their potential deviation from orbit and reentry.

Last September, South Korea’s Air Force and the U.S. Strategic Command agreed to share advanced space monitoring data in line with an accord between the two countries’ defense ministries.

“We have until now lifted off satellites without detailed purposes and strategies. With the operation center, we can integrate various information gained from satellites into useful data, while significantly raising our situational awareness in collaboration with the U.S.,” an Air Force official told The Korea Herald on customary condition of anonymity.

To facilitate its space programs, the Air Force clinched agreements with the Korea Meteorological Administration, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, KAIST and KT Sat, a leading satellite operator.

Under the deal, the institutions will work together to develop a national strategy to counter space dangers and monitoring systems, stably operate satellites and nurture manpower.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)