[Captured from YTN]
North Korea on Sunday announced the "successful" launch of a long-range rocket in an apparent test of its ballistic missile technology, defying international warnings that it would face tough United Nations sanctions.
A working satellite was "precisely" put into orbit in nine minutes and 46 seconds after the rocket was launched, Pyongyang said in a special announcement, followed by the release of related pictures.
North Korea hailed the launch, ordered directly by leader Kim Jong-Un, as an "epoch-making" event and promised to go ahead with more rocket launches.
The launch triggered condemnation from Washington and its allies, which regard it as a cover for developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear bomb up to the US mainland.
At the request of Seoul, Tokyo and Washington, the UN Security Council is to hold a meeting soon, the South's foreign ministry said.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon described the launch as "deeply deplorable" and urged North Korea to stop provocative actions and respect UN resolutions banning any ballistic missile development.
South Korea President Park Geun-Hye called for concerted international action to punish Pyongyang's "intolerable" provocation, which came as the Security Council was working on fresh sanctions against the nuclear-armed country over its nuclear test on January 6.
The White House condemned the launch as "another destabilizing and provocative action" and "a flagrant violation" of UN resolutions.
Beijing expressed regret and accused Pyongyang of ignoring "universal opposition" of the international community, while calling for caution to prevent a surge in tensions.
The three-stage rocket was fired from the North's Sohae launch site at around 9:30 am (0030 GMT), the South's defense ministry said.
US and South Korean troops are analyzing the rocket's trajectory to acquire more information such as its exact range, a ministry spokesman told Aju News, adding the rocket's first stage exploded in mid-air over the Yellow Sea.
Initially North Korea said it would launch a rocket sometime between February 8 and 25 but the launch window was advanced overnight to February 7-14.
North Korea claimed in December 2012 that it successfully launched a long-range rocket, sparking concern about its ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile.
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Park Sae-jin
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