North Korea claims successful launch of spy satellite

North Korea claims it has successfully put a military spy satellite into space, drawing condemnation from neighbouring countries.

State news agency KCNA said the satellite, named Malligyong-1, had accurately entered orbit.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch, the agency added.

The White House described the step as a “brazen violation” of multiple United Nations resolutions.

Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, decried its launch, which flew over the country’s Okinawa prefecture and on towards the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese government briefly issued an emergency warning, telling residents in Okinawa to take shelter. North Korea has twice this year tried and failed to put a military satellite into orbit. It had told Japan it intended to make a third attempt.

Mr Kishida condemned the launch “in the strongest terms” and said a complaint had been lodged with North Korea.”Even if the purpose is to launch a satellite, using ballistic missile technology is a clear violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,” he said. “It is also a very serious matter that greatly concerns the safety of our people.”

Following the launch, South Korea announced it would resume surveillance along its border with the North, thereby taking steps to suspend parts of a deal agreed by the two countries in 2018 aimed at lowering military tensions.

The launch came earlier than anticipated, outside the nine-day window Pyongyang had notified Japan about. This was supposed to start on Wednesday and end at 23:59 local time (14:59 GMT) on 30 November.

KCNA, citing the North’s space agency, said the Sohae launch facility in the northwest of the country, close to the border with China, was used for the operation.