Breaking: North Korea's rocket has been launched

[RB TexLa]

North Korea 'has launched rocket'


North Korea appears to have launched a rocket, reports from Japan and South Korea say.

It came a day after Pyongyang said that its preparations for the launch of a communications satellite were complete.

North Korea says it is pursuing peaceful space development, but its neighbours suspect the launch is a cover for a long-range missile test.

The US, Japan and South Korea have urged it repeatedly not to go ahead and warned of consequences if it does.

North Korea had said that the launch would happen between 4-8 April, during windows from 0200 to 0700 GMT.

"A short time ago a flying object appeared to have been launched from North Korea," the Japanese government statement said.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7982874.stm

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

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[NightWatcher]

2. wonder how far it will get. it has passed Japan (reuters)

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday that passed over Japan, the government in Tokyo said, defying calls from world leaders to scrap a plan that has caused international alarm.

The U.S. State Department confirmed North Korea had launched the rocket but had no further details. South Korea's presidential Blue House would make a statement at 11:00 p.m. EDT, KBS TV said.

Japan said the rocket's second booster stage had splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, indicating the launch had been successful.

"The projectile launched from North Korea today appears to have passed over toward the Pacific," the Japan prime minister's office said in a statement.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53058220090405

[NightWatcher]

5. update

The first rocket booster stage appeared to drop into the Sea of Japan, an estimated 280 km (170 miles) west of the northern Japan coast, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

The second piece appeared to fall into the Pacific Ocean around 1,270 km (790 miles) east of Japan, it said.

JAPAN SAYS TOOK NO ACTION AGAINST ROCKET

Japan's Kyodo news agency said no interceptors had been launched at the rocket and no damage on the ground had been reported.

Japan had dispatched missile intercepting-ships and anti-missile batteries along the projected flight path.

Tokyo said it would not intercept the missile but that it was ready to shoot down any debris, such as falling booster stages, that might threaten its territory.
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53058220090405

[MrPerson]

6. I GOT IT!!!! *pats glove*

[NightWatcher]

7. problem?

[MrPerson]

9. *Throws missile back to pitcher. Spits tobacco*

[LakeSamish706]

3. That wasn't the false alarm was it? Japan made a false alarm earlier.. n/t

[RB TexLa]

4. No

[daleo]

8. Welcome to the nuclear missile club, North Korea

Now that you have that capability, we will all quit saying you are crazy, and learn to coexist with you.

That's about the response I expect from NATO, NORAD, China, India, Japan, etc.

[MrPerson]

10. So has the missile landed and ordered a Mai Tai yet?

[thelordofhell]

11. Sarah Palin saw it fly past her porch