North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday, claiming it carried a satellite into orbit. But the launch was denounced by North Korea's neighbors and the U.S. as a long-range missile test that challenges the international community.
The rocket was launched around 9.30 am local time from North Korea's northwest Dongchang-ri launch site in a southward trajectory and reportedly dropped its first stage into the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula.
Three hours after the launch, North Korea said through an official broadcast that it succeeded in placing the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite into orbit. The satellite is named after the country's late leader Kim Jong Il.
This is North Korea's first long-range rocket launch since December 2012. Under U.N. Security Council resolutions, the country is banned from conducting any launch using ballistic missile technology.
The U.N. Security Council was likely to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, following a joint request from the U.S., Japan and South Korea.
North Korea has claimed it carried out a successful test of a hydrogen bomb on January 6, its fourth nuclear test, also in violation of the U.N. resolutions.
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