Kim Jong-Un Hails North Korea Missile Launch 'The Greatest Success'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been pictured watching the apparent firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile.

State-run broadcaster KRT aired video and photographs showing the purported launch from underwater, with Kim looking on.


The submarine crew applauding Kim Jong-Un

According to the country's official news agency KCNA, Kim supervised the test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

One image shows him watching with binoculars, while others capture him smiling as officials applaud.

He also posed for a group photo with crew in front of the submarine.

Kim reportedly declared the launch "the greatest success," putting the country in the "front rank" of nuclear military powers.

Neither KRT nor KCNA gave the date of the launch.


Kim Jong-Un congratulates the crew


The North Korean leader was pictured laughing with officials

However, the footage comes after reports a missile was launched off the North's eastern coast shortly before 6am local time on Wednesday (about 10pm BST on Tuesday), travelling about 300 miles toward Japan.

Japan said the missile reached its air defence identification zone - a first for a North Korean missile.

The South Korean government and experts have said the launch shows technical progress in the North's SLBM programme.

An unnamed US official said it detected and tracked what it believed to be a KN-11 ballistic missile.