N Korea does it again, launches long-range rocket

“We condemn today’s launch and North Korea’s determination to prioritise its missile and nuclear weapons programs over the well-being of its people, whose struggles only intensify with North Korea’s diversion of scarce resources to such destabilising activities”.

The Unha rocket is believed to be based on the Taepodong long-range ballistic missile, which has around 9,000 kilometres estimated range and would put Australia among other countries in range.

Initially, the North proclaimed the rocket would be fired sometime between February 8 and 25, but it advanced the launch window to February 7-14 on Saturday.

Mr Hammond said the latest test did not mark a change in approach from North Korea, but was a continuation of “destabilising” behaviour.

The United Nations Security Council, after an urgent meeting Sunday, said the weekend rocket launch was a threat to world security and a clear violation of U.N. resolutions banning North Korea from developing its nuclear program. Samantha Power, left, the U.S. Ambassador, and South Korean Ambassador Oh Joon, listen to his comments.

“North Korea has never demonstrated the ability to build a re-entry vehicle that can survive at even half the speed an ICBM would require”, Schilling said.

While stressing North Korea’s right to the “peaceful and independent” use of space, she also noted that it marked a breakthrough in boosting national “defence capability”.

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North’s four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. For South Koreans, the launch was yet another “intolerable provocation”. “We ought to put missile defense interceptors in South Korea”.

Analysts say China’s leadership is reluctant to impose tougher sanctions against North Korea because a sudden collapse of the regime could spark a refugee crisis at its border and lead to a pro-U.S., democratic Korea on its doorstep.

China’s position stands at odds with stronger measures the United States and South Korea are pushing.

The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Kerry held a telephone conversation with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on Sunday, according to the State Department.

It follows North Korea’s widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb.

China expressed regret over the launch and called on all sides to act cautiously to prevent any escalation.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also condemned Pyongyang’s missile launch, saying it was “totally unacceptable”.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the launch with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, the foreign ministry said later, with Japan initiating the phone call.

“There will eventually be a sanctions resolution”, a diplomat told Reuters.

It is unclear how far North Korea has progressed in nuclear and missile development, but its technology clearly is evolving.