World Reacts to North Korean Launch

The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting following what North Korea described as a satellite launch but what the U.S. and South Korea said was actually a long-range missile test. The U.S., the European Union, Japan and South Korea have all weighed in with varying degrees of concern, while China and Russia have urged calm and restraint.

The meeting ended without achieving a resolution or statement.

According to the U.S. Northern Command, the missile broke up and the debris landed in the Pacific Ocean. According to North Korea, the nation now has a satellite orbiting the Earth broadcasting the songs of Gen. Kim Il-sung and Gen. Kim Jong-il.

BBC:

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss North Korea’s rocket launch has ended without agreement.

Japan’s envoy said the council would continue consultations on the most appropriate way to respond.

Tokyo says it is seeking a UN resolution - but China and Russia have both called for restraint.

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AP photo / Lee Jin-man

South Korean soldiers during a U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise south of Seoul last Tuesday. North Korea is believed to have several nuclear warheads that could be mounted on a missile, an international security expert said Tuesday ahead of a rocket launch that regional powers suspected was designed to test weapon delivery technology.