North Korea Launched Long Range Unha-3 Rocket amid International Opposition

North Korea launched a long-range rocket Unha-3 on 12 December 2012 despite international opposition and growing tensions in the region successfully delivering a scientific satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 into orbit.
Unha-3 is the second version of satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 which is successfully lifted off from the Sohae Space Center by carrier rocket.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported that the North Korean missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit, which would fall in line with Pyongyang’s claims about the nature of the launch.
The debris of the rocket fell into waters off the Philippines at 10:05 a.m. local time after passing over Okinawa.

The launch is a message from North Korea to prove they are not lagging behind in terms of technology.

However, The UN Security Council had condemned North Korea’s rocket launch in a short statement following an emergency meeting, saying that “an appropriate response” is now being considered.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported that the North Korean missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit, which would fall in line with Pyongyang’s claims about the nature of the launch.
However critics believe this could be a ballistic missile test, which the UN has banned North Korea from conducting.

Earlier, the US Navy had sent two additional warships to North Korea to track and prepare for a possible North Korean rocket launch, bringing the total number of warships surrounding the Communist state to four.

The United States and the United Nations have expressed concern that North Korea may be testing its missile technology to see if it could be used to eventually strike the US. This is Pyongyang’s second attempt at such a launch in year 2012.The South Korean government estimates that Pyongyang spent some 1.3 billion dollar over the year to conduct the two tests.