North Korea surprised and angered the international community Wednesday by launching a long-range rocket that may have put an object in orbit . The secretive North Korean regime said the rocket had successfully blasted off from a space center on its west coast and claimed the satellite it was carrying had entered its intended orbit . The launch followed a botched attempt in April and came just days after Pyongyang suggested it could be delayed . Initial indications suggest the rocket `` deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit , '' the North American Aerospace Defense Command , the joint U.S.-Canadian aerospace agency , said in a statement . North Korea has previously claimed that two other rockets fired in the past 15 years had successfully launched satellites , but other countries say they fell into the ocean before completing the task . Many nations , such as the United States and South Korea , consider the launch to be a cover for testing ballistic missile technology . The nuclear-armed North has insisted its aim was to place a scientific satellite in space . Countries around the world quickly condemned Pyongyang 's move on Wednesday , saying it breached U.N. Security Council resolutions . The South Korean government said the launch was confrontational and a `` threat to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the world . '' The United States called it `` a highly provocative act '' that is `` yet another example of North Korea 's pattern of irresponsible behavior . '' Washington will work with other countries -- including China , Russia and other Security Council members -- `` to pursue appropriate action , '' said Tommy Vietor , a U.S. National Security Council spokesman . The launch came as a surprise to the United States , which did not expect it to take place Wednesday , a senior U.S. official said . British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he deplored the fact that North Korea `` has chosen to prioritize this launch over improving the livelihood of its people . '' Neighboring countries said the rocket had taken off Wednesday morning and flown south over the Japanese island of Okinawa . The Japanese government said it believed one part of the rocket came down in the sea off the Korean Peninsula , a second part dropped into the East China Sea and a third fell into waters near the Philippines . Read more : What does North Korea 's planned rocket launch mean ? `` It is extremely regrettable that North Korea forced the launch despite our protest , '' Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said at a news conference in Tokyo . `` It is not acceptable , and we strongly protest against it . '' South Korea 's semi-official news agency Yonhap reported that President Lee Myung-bak has convened an emergency security meeting in Seoul . A launch had seemed unlikely to take place so soon after North Korea announced Monday that it was extending the launch window into late December , citing technical issues in an engine . Previous launch attempts by the North in 1998 , 2006 , 2009 and April this year failed to achieve their stated goal of putting a satellite into orbit and provoked international condemnation . Pyongyang had said this rocket launch would be `` true to the behests '' of Kim Jong Il , the late North Korean leader and father of Kim Jong Un , head of the ruling regime . Kim Jong Il died on December 17 last year , so the first anniversary of his death falls within the launch window that North Korea has announced . Experts had also speculated that Pyongyang wanted this launch to happen before the end of 2012 , the year that marks the centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung , the founder of North Korea and grandfather of Kim Jong Un .
NORAD says the rocket appears to have put an object into orbit . The launch is `` a highly provocative act , '' the U.S. government says . It comes as a surprise after North Korea had extended the launch window . U.S. , South Korea say the rocket launch is a cover for testing ballistic missile technology .