North Korea’s latest spy satellite, launched into orbit last week, reportedly transmitted images of the White House, Pentagon, and nearby US naval installations to Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.
The state announced the successful placement of its inaugural spy satellite in space, claiming it had photographed significant US locations, including those mentioned above. The official media disclosed that Kim Jong Un had reviewed the recent images, along with previously captured photos of Rome, Anderson Air Force Base in Guam, Pearl Harbor, and the US Navy’s Carl Vinson aircraft carrier.
Despite a failed satellite launch earlier in the year, South Korea retrieved one of North Korea’s spy satellites and determined its limited military utility. While skepticism persists about the sophistication of North Korea’s satellite technology, there are concerns that it could enhance the regime’s targeting capabilities as it advances its capacity for nuclear strikes.
North Korea initially announced that the satellite would commence its reconnaissance mission on December 1, following some adjustments. However, the Korean Central News Agency stated on Tuesday that the fine-tuning process is being expedited to conclude a day or two ahead of schedule.
As of now, there is no independent verification of the satellite’s operational status, and North Korea has not released any images captured by the new satellite to the global audience.
A spokesperson from the White House National Security Council expressed the US’s inability to independently confirm North Korea’s assertions. The spokesperson denounced the use of a space launch vehicle with ballistic missile technology, labeling it a violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
It’s worth noting that North Korea has a history of making bold claims about its satellite capabilities. During the leadership of Kim Jong Il, the country asserted it had placed a satellite into orbit playing revolutionary songs, only for the US to dispute the claim, suggesting the probe likely ended up at the bottom of the sea.
