N. Korea claims spy satellite took photos of 'major target regions' in S. Korea

▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Nov. 25, 2023, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un (R) speaking with officials, as he visited the National Aerospace Technology Administration the previous day to examine photos taken by the country's new military spy satellite (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ A new type of Chollima-1 rocket carrying a reconnaissance satellite called the Malligyong-1 lifts off from the launching pad at the Sohae satellite launch site in Tongchang-ri in northwestern North Korea at 10:42 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2023, in this photo released the next day by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. North Korea said it has successfully placed the spy satellite into orbit and will launch several more satellites "in a short span of time" to secure its reconnaissance capabilities against South Korea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-spy satellite

N. Korea claims spy satellite took photos of 'major target regions' in S. Korea

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea claimed Saturday its leader Kim Jong-un observed photos taken by the country's recently launched military spy satellite of "major target regions" in South Korea, where several U.S. Army bases are located.

Kim visited the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) on Friday to "learn about the operational preparation of the reconnaissance satellite" and looked at the aerospace photos, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

He examined the photos of major target regions, including Mokpo, Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, Osan, Seoul, and other areas in the South and the North, as the satellite passed over the Korean Peninsula from 10:15-10:27 a.m. on Friday, according to the KCNA.

Pyeongtaek is home to Camp Humphreys, the largest overseas U.S. military installation in the world. Other U.S. military bases are also located in Gunsan and Osan.

North Korea did not release photos taken by its spy satellite, but if confirmed, the satellite imagery could verify that the satellites are working properly in orbit.

NATA also reported to Kim on the "fine-tuning process" that took place for 62 hours after the reconnaissance satellite was put into its orbit and its plan for photographing the region of the South Korean "puppets," as well as an additional fine-tuning process that will take place Saturday morning, the KCNA said.

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