3rd time lucky? North Korea claims successful spy satellite launch

South Korea moved to suspend parts of a 2018 military pact with North Korea after what the North said was the successful launch of its first spy satellite.

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea moved Wednesday to suspend parts of a 2018 military pact with North Korea after Pyongyang defied warnings from the U.S. and its allies with what it said was the successful launch of its first spy satellite.

North Korea launched the Malligyong-1 satellite on a Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae facility on its west coast at 10:42 p.m. Tuesday (8:42 a.m. ET), according to KCNA, the state news agency. The rocket flew normally along the preset flight track, and the satellite entered orbit at 10:54 p.m., KCNA said, citing North Korea’s space agency.

Photographs published by state media appeared to show North Korean leader Kim Jong Un overseeing the launch, which was earlier reported by South Korea and Japan.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday that the North Korean satellite appeared to have entered into orbit.

“It is not clear, however, whether it’s actually working,” it said in a text briefing, adding that it will take some time to verify.