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| N Korea rocket launch condemned | N Korea rocket launch condemned |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has defied international warnings and gone ahead with a controversial rocket launch. | North Korea has defied international warnings and gone ahead with a controversial rocket launch. |
| The rocket blasted off from the Musudan-ri launch site in the north-east of the country at 0230 GMT. | |
| North Korea says it is sending a satellite into orbit, but its neighbours suspect the launch could be a cover for a long-range missile test. | North Korea says it is sending a satellite into orbit, but its neighbours suspect the launch could be a cover for a long-range missile test. |
| Japan, South Korea and the US strongly condemned the launch. Tokyo requested a meeting of the UN Security Council. | Japan, South Korea and the US strongly condemned the launch. Tokyo requested a meeting of the UN Security Council. |
| The US called North Korea's launch a "provocative act". See satellite images of North Korea's launch pad | The US called North Korea's launch a "provocative act". See satellite images of North Korea's launch pad |
| America would take "appropriate steps to let North Korea know that it cannot threaten the safety and security of other countries with impunity", a US State Department Spokesman said. | America would take "appropriate steps to let North Korea know that it cannot threaten the safety and security of other countries with impunity", a US State Department Spokesman said. |
| Japan called the move "extremely regrettable", while South Korea said it constituted a clear breach of a United Nations resolution. | Japan called the move "extremely regrettable", while South Korea said it constituted a clear breach of a United Nations resolution. |
| No intercept | No intercept |
| North Korea announced several weeks ago that it planned to send what it called an "experimental communications satellite" into space. | North Korea announced several weeks ago that it planned to send what it called an "experimental communications satellite" into space. |
| Its rocket blasted off just before midday local time, within a pre-announced launch window. | Its rocket blasted off just before midday local time, within a pre-announced launch window. |
| North Korea's missile programme Reaction to North Korea launch | North Korea's missile programme Reaction to North Korea launch |
| It flew over Japan towards the Pacific, with two booster stages dropping into the ocean to the east and west of Japan, Tokyo said. | It flew over Japan towards the Pacific, with two booster stages dropping into the ocean to the east and west of Japan, Tokyo said. |
| Japan said it did not try to intercept the rocket. It had indicated it would do so if the rocket threatened its territory, and had deployed ships equipped with interceptor technology. | Japan said it did not try to intercept the rocket. It had indicated it would do so if the rocket threatened its territory, and had deployed ships equipped with interceptor technology. |
| North Korea says that the launch is part of what it calls peaceful space development. | North Korea says that the launch is part of what it calls peaceful space development. |
| An unidentified South Korean official told Yonhap news agency that the rocket did appear to be carrying a satellite. It is not clear whether a satellite was successfully put into space. | An unidentified South Korean official told Yonhap news agency that the rocket did appear to be carrying a satellite. It is not clear whether a satellite was successfully put into space. |
| But Pyongyang's neighbours believe the real aim of the launch was to test long-range missile technology. | But Pyongyang's neighbours believe the real aim of the launch was to test long-range missile technology. |
| They suspect North Korea of testing its Taepodong-2 missile, which could put parts of the US within the communist nation's military reach. | They suspect North Korea of testing its Taepodong-2 missile, which could put parts of the US within the communist nation's military reach. |
| North Korea first tested a Taepodong-2 in July 2006. Three months later, it carried out a nuclear test. | North Korea first tested a Taepodong-2 in July 2006. Three months later, it carried out a nuclear test. |
| International talks involving the US, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China on an aid-for-nuclear disarmament deal are currently stalled. | International talks involving the US, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China on an aid-for-nuclear disarmament deal are currently stalled. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Are you in the region? What do you think of North Korea's apparent launch of a satellite? You can send us your views using the form below: | Are you in the region? What do you think of North Korea's apparent launch of a satellite? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |