Japan launched its fifth spy satellite today in a bid to boost its ability to independently gather intelligence. The government said, the domestically developed H-2A rocket carrying the 565 million US Dollars satellite lifted off from a space centre on the southern island of Tanegashima. The satellite will gather intelligence for the defence and diplomatic purposes. Japan has long relied on the United States for intelligence, but it launched its first pair of spy satellites in 2003, prompted by concerns over North Korea's missile programme.