North Korea space launch 'fails'


North Korea's neighbours strongly condemned the rocket launch

North Korea failed in its attempt to get a satellite into space after a rocket launch early on Sunday, US and South Korean officials say. Two stages of the rocket and its payload landed in the Pacific Ocean, a US military statement said.
Hours earlier North Korea claimed the satellite had successfully been put into orbit and was transmitting data.
The United States, Japan and South Korea suspect the launch was a cover for a long-range missile test.
They strongly condemned the launch. US President Barack Obama urged Pyongyang to "refrain from further provocative actions".
"North Korea broke the rules once more by testing a rocket that could be used for a long-range missile," Mr Obama told a crowd in the Czech capital, Prague.
"This provocation underscores the need for action - not just this afternoon at the UN Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons."
The Security Council approved a Japanese request for the emergency session.
Washington, Tokyo and Seoul regard the launch as a clear violation of Security Council resolution 1718 adopted in October 2006, which bans North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile activity.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/7984254.stm