North Korean spy satellite orbits, surveys Guam bases

North Korea on Wednesday successfully put into orbit its spy satellite and it quickly went to work, taking photos of the United States military bases and videos in Guam.

Kim "watched the aerospace photos of Anderson Air Force Base, Apra Harbor and other major military bases of the US forces taken in the sky above Guam in the Pacific, which were received at 9:21 a.m. on 22 November," state-run news agency KCNA said, having earlier announced the purportedly successful launch of the North's "Malligyong-1" spy satellite.

A rocket carrying the satellite blasted off Tuesday night from North Phyongan province and accurately put the Malligyong-1 on its orbit," KCNA reported.

Images in state media showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiling and waving, surrounded by white-uniformed scientists and engineers who cheered and clapped after watching the successful blastoff.

The US led condemnation of the launch, saying it was a "brazen violation" of United Nations sanctions, while South Korea responded by partially suspending a 2018 military deal with the North, saying it would resume surveillance operations along their border.

North Korea's previous efforts to put a spy satellite into orbit in May and August both failed. Seoul, Tokyo and Washington had repeatedly warned Pyongyang not to proceed with another launch, which would violate successive rounds of UN resolutions.