Seoul [South Korea], November 22: North Korea launched a rocket that is believed to be carrying a military reconnaissance satellite into space, South Korea said.
North Korea previously failed twice this year to successfully place a spy satellite in orbit.
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported late on Tuesday that the South Korean military confirmed the rocket launch. The launch took place a day earlier than expected.
North Korea informed Japan that it was planning a satellite launch between Wednesday and December 1, Yonhap said.
Japan's government had earlier said on Tuesday that it planned to coordinate with its allies to urge North Korea not to carry out the launch.
The White House issued a statement on Tuesday that strongly condemned North Korea "for its launch of a space launch vehicle ... using ballistic missile technology, which is a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, raises tensions, and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond."
Source: Qatar Tribune