Stars & Stripes:
A smiling Kim Jong Un congratulated hundreds of North Korean generals, scientists, technicians and others who contributed to last week’s “successful” missile test, state media said Wednesday.
The Musudan missile reportedly flew about 250 miles and reached an altitude of between 620 and 880 miles after it was fired over the Sea of Japan, raising concern that Pyongyang is making progress toward its stated goal of developing a nuclear weapon that can reach the U.S. mainland. Five previous efforts to launch the mid-range missile had failed.
The North Korean leader held a photo session with those behind the June 22 launch, which was an important step in increasing the country’s defense capabilities, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.