North Korea claims its 3rd attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit was successful

By HYUNG-JIN KIM and MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea claims it has successfully placed a military spy satellite into orbit. The North’s space authorities said in a statement Wednesday that its space launch vehicle placed the Malligyong-1 satellite into orbit on Tuesday night. The North’s claim couldn’t be independently confirmed immediately. The North Korean statement says leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch. It says the launch of a spy satellite would enhance North Korea’s war readiness in response to its rivals’ hostile military moves. It says North Korea will fire more spy satellites at an early date.