South Korea has launched its second military reconnaissance satellite from the United States.

South Korea's defense ministry says a private-sector rocket carrying the satellite lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday.

The ministry announced that the launch was successful after the satellite communicated with a ground station.

Ministry officials say the satellite is equipped with a high-performance radar capable of monitoring the Earth's surface regardless of weather conditions. They say it will be used to monitor North Korea to detect signs of missile launches.

Seoul plans to launch five military reconnaissance satellites by next year. The first one was launched last December.

On Monday, South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea could launch a second military spy satellite as early as mid-April after completing technical enhancements.

South Korea's military is on heightened alert ahead of the birthday on Monday next week of Kim Il Sung -- North Korea's founder and the grandfather of its leader Kim Jong Un.