Russian support likely enabled North Korean spy satellite launch – South Korea

The Malligyong-1 military spy satellite went into orbit on Tuesday (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

South Korean officials have concluded that Russian support likely enabled North Korea to put a spy satellite into orbit for the first time this week, and say they will know whether it is functioning properly by early next week.

The launch has deepened regional animosities, with both Koreas threatening to breach a past reconciliation deal and taking hostile actions along their heavily armed border.