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| Defiant N Korea launches rocket | Defiant N Korea launches rocket |
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| 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 said it was sending a satellite into orbit, but its neighbours suspect the launch was 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. |
| They strongly condemned the launch. The US president told Pyongyang to "refrain from further provocative actions". | They strongly condemned the launch. The US president told Pyongyang to "refrain from further provocative actions". |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said North Korea's actions were not conducive to regional stability, as did the European Union. China and Russia both called on all sides to act with restraint. | |
| The UN Security Council has approved a Japanese request for an emergency session later in the day in New York. | The UN Security Council has approved a Japanese request for an emergency session later in the day in New York. |
| 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 had not tried to intercept the rocket. It had indicated it would do so if the rocket threatened its territory. | Japan said it had not tried to intercept the rocket. It had indicated it would do so if the rocket threatened its territory. |
| 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. |
| If it is confirmed, North Korea will see this as a major propaganda victory, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. | If it is confirmed, North Korea will see this as a major propaganda victory, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. |
| But of more concern to Pyongyang's neighbours is the potential military use of the launch vehicle, our correspondent says. | But of more concern to Pyongyang's neighbours is the potential military use of the launch vehicle, our correspondent says. |
| They believe the real aim of the launch was to test long-range missile technology; specifically the Taepodong-2. | They believe the real aim of the launch was to test long-range missile technology; specifically the Taepodong-2. |
| They believe it could put parts of the US within the communist nation's military reach. | They believe it could put parts of the US within the communist nation's military reach. |
| North Korea first tested a Taepodong-2 in July 2006. It failed less than a minute after lift-off. | North Korea first tested a Taepodong-2 in July 2006. It failed less than a minute after lift-off. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 |