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North Korea defies warnings to launch rocket | North Korea defies warnings to launch rocket |
(about 1 hour later) | |
North Korea says it has successfully launched its rocket in defiance of international warnings. | North Korea says it has successfully launched its rocket in defiance of international warnings. |
The rocket, launched at 09:49 local time (00:49 GMT), appears to have followed its planned trajectory, with stages falling in expected areas. | |
North Korea says a satellite has been placed in orbit; the US confirmed an object had been put into space. | |
South Korea, the US and Japan have condemned the launch as a banned test of long-range missile technology. | |
Japan has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Reports suggested this could take place later on Wednesday. | |
The launch comes a week ahead of the South Korean presidential election and roughly a year after the death of leader Kim Jong-il, on 17 December 2011. | The launch comes a week ahead of the South Korean presidential election and roughly a year after the death of leader Kim Jong-il, on 17 December 2011. |
'Extremely regrettable' | 'Extremely regrettable' |
The three-stage rocket was launched from a site on North Korea's west coast. | The three-stage rocket was launched from a site on North Korea's west coast. |
"The launch of the second version of our Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite from the Sohae Space Centre... on December 12 was successful," state news agency KCNA said. "The satellite has entered the orbit as planned." | "The launch of the second version of our Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite from the Sohae Space Centre... on December 12 was successful," state news agency KCNA said. "The satellite has entered the orbit as planned." |
The rocket had been scheduled to pass between the Korean peninsula and China, with a second stage coming down off the Philippines. | The rocket had been scheduled to pass between the Korean peninsula and China, with a second stage coming down off the Philippines. |
"The missile was tracked on a southerly azimuth [angle]. Initial indications are that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea," href="http://www.norad.mil/News/2012/121112b.html" >a North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) statement said. | |
"The second stage was assessed to fall into the Philippine Sea. Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit." | |
The Japanese government, which put its armed forces on alert ahead of the launch, said the rocket had passed over parts of Okinawa prefecture, south of the Japanese mainland. | The Japanese government, which put its armed forces on alert ahead of the launch, said the rocket had passed over parts of Okinawa prefecture, south of the Japanese mainland. |
"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. | "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". | Its top government spokesman called the launch "extremely regrettable" and something that Japan "cannot tolerate". |
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, meanwhile, called an emergency meeting of his top advisors. His foreign minister said the government strongly condemned the launch. | |
The US called it a "highly provocative act that threatens regional security". | |
There was no immediate reaction from officials in China - which is North Korea's closest ally. But a commentary from state-run Xinhua news agency called on all parties to remain "cool headed" and engage in "trust-building measures". | |
April failure | April failure |
North Korea had said two days ago that the launch could be delayed because of a technical problem, extending the window until 29 December. | |
South Korea, the US and other nations had urged North Korea not to go ahead, warning that it would constitute a test of long-range missile technology banned under UN resolutions. | |
Washington and its allies say the rocket launches represent banned missile tests because the basic technology is the same. | |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Officials fear it could be working towards a missile on which a nuclear warhead could be mounted - but it is not thought to have fully developed either the missile or the warheads yet. |