North Korea claims it launched a special carrier rocket on Sunday as part of a “crucial” development test of a military reconnaissance satellite, according to state media, releasing two high-altitude images reportedly taken that day over snow-covered South Korean cities Seoul and Incheon.

The Rodong Sinmun on Monday said the test was a success and “passed the final hurdle” on the way toward “finishing the preparations for military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 by April 2023.”

The satellite images of Seoul and Incheon were taken with a 20-meter resolution camera, the report said — low-resolution by today’s standards, where even