North Korean spy satellite uses a Nikon camera

Footage of the satellite launch. | Credits: KCNA

On 21 November 2023, North Korea launched their first spy satellite. A week later, they claimed they had covertly photographed the White House, the Pentagon and US nuclear aircraft carriers. Although unverified, it is now known that the reconnaissance satellite uses a ‘Nikon camera’, according to South Korean Minster of National Defence, Shin Won-sik.

Shin said he finds incredible North Korea’s claim that its Malligyong-1 spy satellite placed into orbit last month began to work on its mission early this month.

“It takes at least five to six months (after the launch) even for high-tech U.S. and South Korean satellites to start a mission,” Shin said, confirming that the North’s satellite is making contact.

Shin also said that a “Nikon camera” was used in the satellite.
Yonhap News Agency

Kim Jong Un watching over the launch. | Credits: KCNA

This was also the first successful flight of North Korea’s new launch vehicle, the Chollima-1. | Credits: KCNA

Sam King

Lens Front Founder - Sam is a freelance web developer and amateur photographer. Currently splitting his time between the UK and France, for the last 2 years Sam has been travelling full time, visiting countries such as Bosnia, Serbia and Australia, and even spent a month in Wadi Rum, Jordan, where he lived and worked with Bedouin tribesmen in the desert.