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N Korea rocket launch condemned N Korea rocket launch condemned
(10 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.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 said it was sending a satellite into orbit, but its neighbours suspect the launch was 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. They strongly condemned the launch. The US president told Pyongyang to "refrain from further provocative actions".
The US called North Korea's launch a "provocative act". See satellite images of North Korea's launch pad North Korea had "ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations", Barack Obama said in a written statement. 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.
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.
The UN Security Council has approved a Japanese request for an emergency session later in the day in New York.
No interceptNo 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, a weapon 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. It failed less than a minute after lift-off.
International talks involving the US, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China on an aid-for-nuclear disarmament deal are currently stalled. Three months later, Pyongyang 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.
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