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North Korea 'has launched rocket' North Korea 'has launched rocket'
(20 minutes later)
North Korea appears to have launched a rocket, reports from Japan and South Korea say. North Korea appears to have launched a rocket, despite international appeals not to go ahead.
It came a day after Pyongyang said that its preparations for the launch of a communications satellite were complete. Officials from Japan, South Korea and the US confirmed lift-off at 0230 GMT. The rocket appeared to have passed over Japan to the Pacific, Tokyo said.
North Korea says it is pursuing peaceful space development, but its neighbours suspect the launch is 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.
The US, Japan and South Korea have urged it repeatedly not to go ahead and warned of consequences if it does. They say it violates UN resolutions and have warned of consequences.
North Korea had said that the launch would happen between 4-8 April, during windows from 0200 to 0700 GMT.
"A short time ago a flying object appeared to have been launched from North Korea," the Japanese government statement said."A short time ago a flying object appeared to have been launched from North Korea," the Japanese government statement said.
The rocket appeared to have passed over Japan, the government said. The US State Department and South Korea's presidential office also confirmed a launch.
South Korean officials also confirmed that a rocket had been launched. Japan did not try to intercept it, as it had indicated that it would if its territory was threatened, it said in a statement.
The US called the launch "provocative" and the Japanese government described it as "regrettable".
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