North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un studied images of America's military operations in the Pacific in an alarming follow up to launching a 'spy satellite' into orbit in 'brazen violation' of international law on Tuesday.

The stumpy supremo viewed images taken above the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam of American military installations, including the Andersen Air Force Base, at the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA), the North's KCNA news agency said. 

Kim stressed the need for more reconnaissance satellites on different orbits to give his armed forces 'abundant valuable real-time information about the enemy and further promote their responsive posture', it said.

It came only hours after the country claimed to have successfully launched a spy satellite in a shock escalation that stunned Japan into urging its citizens in the south to take shelter, fearing a possible missile strike.

'The missile is believed to have passed into the Pacific Ocean around 22:55 (1355 GMT). The call for evacuation is being cancelled,' the office of Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said via X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.

The launch of 'Malligyong-1' was heralded as a success by North Korea after two failed attempts earlier this year. Pyongyang suggested onlookers could expect more of the same, with future 'satellite' launches to follow.

The KCNA shared photographs of Kim Jong Un with officials at the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) on Wednesday, looking on at regional maps on a large screen.