Japan launches first military communications satellite

Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Japan has launched its first military communications satellite, which will be positioned in orbit 22,000 miles above the Earth.

The launch of the Kirameki-2 satellite comes amid tensions with China in the East China Sea over conflicting claims of sovereignty over an island and tension with North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported the launch took place Tuesday at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Tanegashima Space Center.

The launch was conducted by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the space agency using a H-IIA Launch Vehicle.

Two other Kirameki X-band satellites will be launched at a later later date. One of those is the Kiramei-1, whose launch had been delayed because of damage sustained during its transportation to a launch site in in French Guiana, the report said.