The rocket, launched at 09:49 local time, appears to have followed its planned trajectory²（轨道）, 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 condemned³ the launch as a banned test of long-range missile technology. 

 

The US called it a "highly provocative⁴ act that threatens regional security", while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it was a "clear violation⁵" of a UN resolution. 

 

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 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 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," a North American Aerospace⁶ Defence Command (Norad) statement said. 

 

"The second stage was assessed to fall into the Philippine Sea. Initial indications are that the missile deployed⁷ 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 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 debris⁸ which infringed⁹ on its territory, deploying¹⁰ naval¹¹ vessels¹² and land-based missile interceptors. 

 

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 advisors¹³. His foreign minister said the government strongly condemned the launch.

 

The US called the launch another "example of North Korea's pattern of irresponsible behaviour".

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