North Korea says spy satellite photographed White House, Pentagon

North Korea’s government is claiming its spy satellite photographed the White House and the Pentagon.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has seen satellite photos of the Pentagon and the White House, as well as Naval Station Norfolk and Newport News Dockyard in Virginia.

The Associated Press reported North Korea has not released these photographs, and outside experts aren’t sure the country’s new satellite can send high-resolution photographs and perform top military surveillance.

North Korea said it successfully launched the Malligyong-1 l satellite last week. According to the state-run Pyongyang Times, the North Korean leader held a celebration of the launch Thursday.

At the celebration, Kim said the launch “had propelled the country into a new era of space power,” KCNA said, according to the BBC.

Asked later Tuesday about the North Korean claims, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder dryly responded: “I don’t have any information to provide on what [imagery] the North Korean satellite has captured. . . . I will say that there are plenty of images of the Pentagon and the White House online.” 

Last Tuesday, the White House said it “strongly condemns” the satellite launch. It also said the launch violated United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.

“The president and his national security team are assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners,” the Biden administration said in a statement. “We urge all countries to condemn this launch and call on [North Korea] to come to the table for serious negotiations.”

The launch came after two failed attempts back in May and August. Kim also reportedly watched the launch himself.  

South Korea also suspended a no-fly zone agreement with its northern neighbor in the wake of the launch. The zone was near the demilitarized border between the two countries. 

Updated at 3:41 p.m.