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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
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| Defiant N Korea launches rocket | Defiant N Korea launches rocket |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| State media said a satellite had been put into orbit and was transmitting data and revolutionary songs. | |
| But there has been no independent confirmation so far. The US, Japan and South Korea 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. | 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. |
| Washington, Tokyo and Seoul regard the launch as a clear violation of Security Council resolution 1718 adopted in October 2006, which bans North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile activity. | |
| No intercept | No intercept |
| North Korea announced several weeks ago that it planned to send what it called an "experimental communications satellite" into space from the Musudan-ri launch site in the north-east. | North Korea announced several weeks ago that it planned to send what it called an "experimental communications satellite" into space from the Musudan-ri launch site in the north-east. |
| The three-stage 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 the launch is part of what it calls peaceful space development. | |
| "Our scientists and engineers have succeeded in sending satellite 'Kwangmyongsong-2' into orbit by way of carrier rocket 'Unha-2'," state news agency KCNA reported. | |
| It added that it was transmitting data and the "Song of General Kim Il-sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong-il" - references to the late founder of North Korea and his son, the current leader. | |
| In a previous satellite launch attempt in 1998, North Korea said it was sending up a device that would orbit the world transmitting revolutionary melodies. | |
| It claimed this was also successful but the launch is believed to have been a failure as no trace of the satellite was ever found. | |
| Earlier on Sunday, an unidentified South Korean official told Yonhap news agency that the rocket did appear to be carrying a satellite. | |
| If confirmed, North Korea will see this as a major propaganda victory, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. | |
| US within range? | |
| 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. | |
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