North Korea claims its military reconnaissance satellite has taken photos of the White House and the Pentagon in the United States. But the country has not published any of the images.

The Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers' Party newspaper, reported on Tuesday that leader Kim Jong Un was briefed on operational preparations for the satellite on Monday and Tuesday.

It says the briefings were provided by the aerospace administration's Pyongyang control center.

A few minutes past 11:30 p.m. North Korean time on Monday, the satellite reportedly photographed the White House and the Pentagon.

The newspaper said it also photographed US military base facilities in the state of Virginia. It added that the satellite captured images of four US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and a British aircraft carrier.

North Korea launched the Malligyong-1 satellite on November 21. Since then, it has reportedly taken photos of US bases in Guam and South Korea, but no images have been released.

North Korea says the satellite will begin its official mission on Friday.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency quoted a South Korean military source as saying that it normally takes months for a satellite to acquire the ability to take pictures following its launch and the confirmation of its operational status.

The source suggested that the North's reports are meant to hype its satellite program.