This photo provided by KCNA on Dec. 14, 2012 shows Kim Jong Un (C), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), celebrates with people after the successful launch of Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite at the Pyongyang General Satellite Control Command Center on Dec. 12, 2012. Kim Jong Un personally commanded Wednesday's satellite launch and observed the whole launching process, the official news agency KCNA reported earlier Friday. (Xinhua/KCNA)

Related:

DPRK top leader commands satellite launch on-scene: report

PYONGYANG, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), personally commanded Wednesday's satellite launch at the Pyongyang General Satellite Control Command Center and observed the whole launching process, the official news agency KCNA reported earlier Friday.

Kim issued the final written order on the launch of Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite to the Korean Committee of Space Technology at 8 am Wednesday, gave the launch order at the Command Center at 9 am and observed whole launching process, said the KCNA.  Full story

This photo provided by KCNA on Dec. 14, 2012 shows Kim Jong Un (Front), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), applauds after the successful launch of Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite at the Pyongyang General Satellite Control Command Center on Dec. 12, 2012. Kim Jong Un personally commanded Wednesday's satellite launch and observed the whole launching process, the official news agency KCNA reported earlier Friday. (Xinhua/KCNA)

This photo provided by KCNA on Dec. 14, 2012 shows Kim Jong Un (C), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), gives the launch order of Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite at the Pyongyang General Satellite Control Command Center on Dec. 12, 2012. Kim Jong Un personally commanded Wednesday's satellite launch and observed the whole launching process, the official news agency KCNA reported earlier Friday. (Xinhua/KCNA)

This photo provided by KCNA on Dec. 14, 2012 shows the launch of Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite at the Pyongyang General Satellite Control Command Center on Dec. 12, 2012. Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), personally commanded Wednesday's satellite launch and observed the whole launching process, the official news agency KCNA reported earlier Friday. (Xinhua/KCNA)

This photo provided by KCNA on Dec. 14, 2012 shows the screen displaying the launch of Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite at the Pyongyang General Satellite Control Command Center on Dec. 12, 2012. Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), personally commanded Wednesday's satellite launch and observed the whole launching process, the official news agency KCNA reported earlier Friday. (Xinhua/KCNA)