[jriemer]

Considering that the KH-12 has a mass of approx. 19,000 kg, the Japanese booster technology is quite advanced if they want to launch something into orbit. Their HII-A boosters are rated for a maximum lift of 3,500 kg into orbit with multiple-payload insertions. I would think with their skill with minaturization and optics, the Japanese would be able to build a very compact but versitile recon sat within their lift limits.

Space is going to be very crowded in the future...

[AmericanInTokyo]

North Korea is already all flustered since the Japanese H2 can/is , as I understand, essentially an intercontinental ballistic missile, which could certainly be moved away from orbital to perhaps targeting them with WMD as a counterthreat.