Regional media coverage

December 2012 Last updated at 16:44 GMT

North Korea rocket launch condemned internationally

North Korea launches rocket in defiance of warnings

There's been widespread international condemnation of the launch by North Korea of a long-range rocket.

The United States called the test a "highly provocative act that threatens regional security".

The UN Security Council is meeting in emergency session to discuss the launch, which was conducted in defiance of a UN resolution banning Pyongyang from conducting missile tests.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon termed it a "clear violation".

China, Pyongyang's closest ally, expressed regret that North Korea had launched a satellite "in spite of the extensive concerns of the international community".

The Unha-3 rocket, launched at 09:49 local time (00:49 GMT), appears to have followed its planned trajectory, 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.

US National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said: "This action is yet another example of North Korea's pattern of irresponsible behaviour. Given this current threat to regional security, the United States will strengthen and increase our close coordination with allies and partners.

"The international community must work in a concerted fashion to send North Korea a clear message that its violations of UN Security Council resolutions have consequences."

The launch comes a week ahead of the South Korean presidential election and roughly a year after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, on 17 December 2011.

'Extremely regrettable'

The three-stage rocket blasted off from a site on North Korea's west coast.

"The launch of the second version of our Kwangmyongsong-3 [Unha-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 Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) statement said.

Regional media coverage

Most media outlets from South Korea, Japan and China reported the rocket launch at least an hour before Pyongyang's state-run news agency KCNA and the national radio station.

Most TV stations and news portals described the timing as "unexpected", with China's Xinhua news agency an exception.

Xinhua published a commentary a few hours after the launch and defended North Korea's "right to conduct peaceful exploration" of outer space. After reporting the launch, South Korean and Japanese media quoted officials of the two countries who were sharply critical of it.

"The second stage was assessed to fall into the Philippine Sea. Initial indications are that the missile deployed 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. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, meanwhile, called an emergency meeting of his top advisers. His foreign minister said the government strongly condemned the launch.

In China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei expressed "regret" at the launch. A commentary from state-run Xinhua news agency called on all parties to remain "cool headed" and engage in "trust-building measures".Britain has summoned the North Korean ambassador for urgent talks.Foreign Office Minister Sayeeda Warsi told parliament the ballistic missile test was unacceptable.

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