Air & Space
published : 2023-11-27
North Korea Claims Spy Satellite Reveals US Target Regions, Including Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Base
Kim Jong Un Visits Control Center to Learn About Developments in Using the Spy Satellite
North Korea is asserting that their newly launched military spy satellite has provided photo images of key South Korean and U.S. bases.
Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang General Control Centre of the National Aerospace Technology Administration to stay updated on developments with the spy satellite.
State media outlet Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong Un learned in detail about the photos of major target areas in the enemy region, including Mokpho, Kunsan, Phyongthaek, Osan, and Seoul.
The reconnaissance satellite took these photos while passing through the Korean Peninsula from 10:15 to 10:27 a.m. that day.
Camp Humphreys, a U.S. Army Garrison and the largest overseas base operated by the U.S. military, located in Pyeongtaek, was among the targets seen in the satellite images.
Kim Jong Un returned to the command center on the following day to review further satellite images, including the Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan, Pohang, Daegu, and Gangneung regions of South Korea.
North Korea claimed to have also captured photos of Pearl Harbor naval base and Hickam Air Base in Honolulu.
North Korean state media did not release any photos of the supposed satellite imagery.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff acknowledged the apparent success of the Malligyong-1 satellite launch into orbit, although they did not confirm its operational status.
This was North Korea's third attempt to launch a military spy satellite, following failed attempts in May and August due to technical issues.
According to state media, similar operations are planned in the future to enhance North Korea's war capabilities.