This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20690338

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
North Korea defies warnings to launch rocket North Korea defies warnings to launch rocket
(35 minutes later)
North Korea has launched its rocket in defiance of international warnings, South Korea and Japan say.North Korea has launched its rocket in defiance of international warnings, South Korea and Japan say.
The rocket went up at 09:49 local time (00:49 GMT) from a site on the west coast. It is not yet clear whether the launch was a complete success. The three-stage rocket was launched at 09:49 (00:49 GMT). Reports indicate it followed its intended trajectory, with stages falling in expected areas.
North Korea says its rocket will put a satellite into space, but several nations say the launch is a cover for long-range missile development. North Korea says its rocket is putting a satellite into space, but several nations say the launch is a cover for long-range missile development.
A previous launch in April failed when the rocket broke up after take-off.A previous launch in April failed when the rocket broke up after take-off.
That rocket flew for only a few minutes before exploding and crashing into the sea west of the Korean peninsula. There has been no word yet from North Korea on this launch, which comes only two days after it warned that technical problems could force a delay.
It also comes a week ahead of the South Korean presidential election and roughly a year from the death of leader Kim Jong-il, who died on 17 December 2011.
'Extremely regrettable''Extremely regrettable'
This rocket was scheduled to pass between the Korean peninsula and China, with a second stage coming down off the Philippines before launching the satellite into orbit. The rocket was launched from a site on North Korea's west coast. It was scheduled to pass between the Korean peninsula and China, with a second stage coming down off the Philippines before launching the satellite into orbit.
The Japanese government, which put its armed forces on alert ahead of the launch, said the rocket appeared to have passed over Okinawa prefecture. The Japanese government, which put its armed forces on alert ahead of the launch, said the rocket appeared to have passed over parts of Okinawa prefecture, south of the Japanese mainland.
"The missile that North Korea calls a satellite passed over Okinawa around 1001. We launched no interception," a government statement quoted by AFP news agency said. "The missile that North Korea calls a satellite passed over Okinawa around 10:01. We launched no interception," a government statement quoted by AFP news agency said.
Japan had threatened to shoot down any debris which infringed on its territory, deploying naval vessels and land-based missile interceptors.Japan had threatened to shoot down any debris which infringed on its territory, deploying naval vessels and land-based missile interceptors.
Its top government spokesman called the launch "extremely regrettable" and something that Japan "cannot tolerate". South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the first stage of the rocket had come down in the Yellow Sea. Japan said more debris landed east of the Philippines.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, meanwhile, has called an emergency meeting of his top advisors in response to the launch. Japan's top government spokesman called the launch "extremely regrettable" and something that Japan "cannot tolerate".
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, meanwhile, has called an emergency meeting of his top advisors.
Seoul, Washington and other nations had urged North Korea not to go ahead with the launch, warning that it would constitute a test of long-range missile technology banned under UN resolutions.Seoul, Washington and other nations had urged North Korea not to go ahead with the launch, warning that it would constitute a test of long-range missile technology banned under UN resolutions.
North Korea has not yet made any formal announcement on the launch, which comes only two days after it warned that technical problems could force a delay. The US and its allies say the rocket launches represent banned missile tests because the basic technology is the same.
It also comes a week ahead of the South Korean presidential election and roughly a year from the death of leader Kim Jong-il, who died on 17 December 2011. North Korea is believed to be working on the development of a long-range missile capable of reaching the west coast of the US mainland.
It has not previously successfully launched a three-stage rocket. Its most recent test, in April 2012, ended in failure, when the rocket flew for only a few minutes before exploding and crashing into the sea west of the Korean peninsula.
The closed communist nation has also carried out two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009. International talks on ending its nuclear ambitions have been stalled for several years.