The nuclear-armed country has been seeking to place what would be its first military spy satellite into orbit, saying it plans a fleet of satellites to monitor moves by US and South Korean troops.

The flight was supposed to put North Korea's first spy satellite in orbit.

Kim's visit to the space agency comes just days after North Korea tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, a development experts say would facilitate missile launches with little warning.

The Ofek-13, manufactured by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, is the latest in a series of locally produced satellites first put into orbit in 1988.