Kim Jong Un has eyes on US: North Korea dictator inspects images of America’s military ops in the Pacific including Anderson Airforce Base on Guam after launching spy satellite in ‘brazen breach’ of agreements

• North Korea launched a reconnaissance satellite near Japan on Tuesday
• Kim Jong Un was then pictured studying American operations nearby 

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un studied images of America’s military operations in the Pacific in an alarming follow up to launching a ‘spy satellite’ into orbit in ‘brazen violation’ of international law on Tuesday.

The stumpy supremo viewed images taken above the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam of American military installations, including the Andersen Air Force Base, at the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA), the North’s KCNA news agency said. 

Kim stressed the need for more reconnaissance satellites on different orbits to give his armed forces ‘abundant valuable real-time information about the enemy and further promote their responsive posture’, it said. 

It came only hours after the country claimed to have successfully launched a spy satellite in a shock escalation that stunned Japan into urging its citizens in the south to take shelter, fearing a possible missile strike.

The missile is believed to have passed into the Pacific Ocean around 22:55 (1355 GMT). The call for evacuation is being cancelled,’ the office of Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said via X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.

The launch of ‘Malligyong-1’ was heralded as a success by North Korea after two failed attempts earlier this year. Pyongyang suggested onlookers could expect more of the same, with future ‘satellite’ launches to follow.

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un (2R) visits the the Pyongyang General Control Centre of the Korean National Aerospace Technology Directorate, a day after the launch of a rocket carrying the reconnaissance satellite ‘Malligyong-1’, in Pyongyang

Kim Jong Un viewed images of U.S. military bases in the Pacific at the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) on Wednesday

The KCNA shared photographs of Kim Jong Un with officials at the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) on Wednesday, looking on at regional maps on a large screen.

He was reported to have credited Tuesday’s launch as “a great event in developing the armed forces of the Republic” amid a changing security situation in the region, according to the agency.

READ MORE: Tubby tyrant Kim Jong Un watches rocket launch of spy satellite after North Korean regime claimed to have placed its first device in space 

It came as South Korea today suspended part of a 2018 military agreement with its northern neighbour in light of the launch, against US warnings and in breach of UN resolutions banning such launches, judging them covers for missile technology.

The pact between North and South Korea, known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement and aimed at de-escalating tension between them, was signed at a 2018 summit between then South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North’s Kim. 

The suspension of a clause in the agreement will see South Korea stepping up military surveillance along the heavily fortified border with North Korea. Critics had said the pact weakened South Korea’s ability to monitor the North’s near the border while North Korea had violated the agreement.

Yesterday’s launch put Japan on high alert, forcing authorities to warn residents in the southern Okinawa prefecture to duck and cover as reports of a possible missile launch broke.

Japan later rescinded the warning as it reported the object had flown towards the Pacific Ocean. 

‘We have already made a strong protest against North Korea, and we have condemned it in the strongest possible terms,’ Kishida told reporters at his office on Tuesday.

South Korea’s military said the satellite was evaluated to have entered orbit, but it would take time to assess whether it was operating normally.

Earlier, the Pentagon said the U.S. military was also assessing whether the launch was a success. 

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson called the launch ‘a brazen violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions’.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged North Korea to fully comply with U.N. resolutions, which bar its use of technology applicable to ballistic missile programmes, a spokesperson said.

The foreign ministry of China, North Korea’s closest ally, called on all parties to ensure peace and stability.

Kim Jong 3, 2, 1… The North Korean leader watches over a ‘spy satellite’ launch, apparently from North Phyongan province, on Tuesday, November 22, 2023

A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) today shows the launch of a new-type carrier rocket ‘Chollima-1’ carrying the satellite ‘Malligyong-1’ at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province

KCNA said the Malligyong-1 satellite was launched on a Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae satellite launch facility at 10:42 p.m. (1342 GMT) on Tuesday and entered orbit at 10:54 p.m. (1354 GMT).

North Korea had previously notified Japan of a satellite launch to follow, but not provided exact dates or timings.

The launch came just over a week before South Korea plans to send its first spy satellite into space on a rocket operated by the U.S. company Space X.

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