[Smithy]

north korea on friday launched its controversial rocket carrying a weather satellite, south korea's defence ministry and u.s. Officials said.

A spokesman for the defence ministry in seoul told reporters at a briefing that the launch at taken place at 0739 local time (11.39 p.m. British time) and that south korea and the united states were checking whether it had been a success.

The launch has drawn international criticism and threats to shoot the rocket down as well as sabotaged a food aid deal with the united states.

The unha-3 rocket took off from a new launch site on the west coast of north korea, near the chinese border, and if successful will enhance pyongyang's ability to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, critics say.

The three-stage rocket's flight path will take it over the sea between the korean peninsula and china, where the first stage is due to splash down. A second stage is due to land in waters off the philippines.

The launch had been timed to coincide with the 100th birthday celebrations of the isolated and impoverished state's founder, kim il-sung, and came after a food aid deal with the united states had hinted at an easing of tensions on the world's most militarised border.

.

l

[InOne]

Apparently it's failed

[Scarlett.]

Weather satillite my arse

[King Gizzard]

#WorldWar3WereAllGoingToDie

[Smithy]

@mpoppel: BREAKING -- Japanese Defense Minister says NKorean rocket appears to have fallen into ocean

[MTVN]

That went well then

[Kizzy]

Yes, theres no chance he will try again..

[Shaun]

north korea's keenly-watched rocket launch has failed, pyongyang has confirmed.

The rocket - seen by many as a banned test of long-range missile technology - was launched from north-west north korea early on friday.

The us, japan and south korea say it flew only for a short time before breaking up and crashing into waters off the korean peninsula.

North korea said its scientists were assessing what had caused the failure.

North korea says the aim of the rocket was to launch a satellite into orbit - a move marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of national founder kim il-sung.

But the us and other nations say the launch constituted a disguised test of long-range missile technology banned under un resolutions.

In a statement, the white house condemned the launch, despite its failure. The un security council is due to meet later in the day to discuss the launch.
'ended in failure'

the rocket went up at 07:39 local time (22:39 gmt thursday), south korean officials said.

Its intended flight path would have taken it south, to the west of the korean peninsula between japan and the philippines.

Both japan and south korea had threatened to shoot it down if it threatened their territory.

But officials from several nations observing the launch said the rocket had failed.

"initial indications are that the first stage of the missile fell into the sea 165km (105 miles) west of seoul, south korea. The remaining stages were assessed to have failed and no debris fell on land. At no time were the missile or the resultant debris a threat," the north american aerospace defense command (norad) said in a statement.

Japan reported similar details.

"at approximately 7:40 a.m. We confirmed that a certain flying object was launched from north korea and fell after flying for just over a minute. There was no impact on japanese territory," japanese defence minister naoki tanaka said.

South korea said the rocket exploded into some 20 pieces and fell into the sea. "we are conducting a search operation to retrieve the fallen objects," a defence ministry official said.

Some five hours after the launch, north korea confirmed it had been unsuccessful.

"the earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset orbit. Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure," state-run kcna news agency said.

Kim jong-un at the workers' party conference in pyongyang on 11 april 2012 (image via kcna) kim jong-un inherited the north korean leadership in december 2011

the us said that north korea's behaviour was of concern to the global community.

"despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, north korea's provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments," a white house statement said.

Pyongyang agreed in february to a partial freeze in nuclear activities and a missile test moratorium in return for us food aid. But that deal was put on hold last month after the north announced its rocket launch plans.

Earlier this week reports also emerged from south korea of a possible third nuclear test being planned by north korea.

North korea conducted a similar rocket launch in 2009. On that occasion us and south korea analysts said the rocket failed to reach orbit - but north korea said it was a success.

The failure of this launch could pose a challenge for pyongyang, which is holding a week of high-profile events ahead of the formal celebrations to mark kim il-sung's birthday on sunday.

The workers' party held a rare conference on wednesday and the country's rubber-stamp parliament is due to meet on friday.

Both meetings are seen as formalising the transition of power to young leader kim jong-un following the death of his father kim jong-il in december 2011.

lol

[Locke.]

"North Korea is spending $850 million (£533 million) on the imminent launch of what it claims is a rocket to put a satellite into orbit, an amount that would feed millions in the impoverished country. "

What a waste

[Novo]

What a ****ed up country

[joeysteele]

It's actually a very dangerous Nation,I am glad this went badly, they need to learn they are not invincible.
People are in great need in their Country and they waste massive amounts of funding on this. Totally ridiculous.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Smithy

@mpoppel: BREAKING -- Japanese Defense Minister says NKorean rocket appears to have fallen into ocean

Fair enough

[arista]

Originally Posted by Nathan

#WorldWar3WereAllGoingToDie

Yes
but some of us will be in our Bunkers

[Tom4784]