Sunday, 5 April 2009
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 US, EU, Japan and South Korea condemned the launch, thought to be a cover for a long-range missile test.
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.
