The DPRK has fired a long-range rocket, its second launch this year under its new leader, Kim Jong-un. DPRK state television has declared that the three stage rocket successfully sent a satellite into orbit. But there has been no independent confirmation a satellite had been put into orbit.

The rocket was launched just over three hours ago and Japan has reported it overflew its southern island of Okinawa. Japan's NHK said the second stage of the rocket fell into waters off the Philippines as planned. Meanwhile South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has held an emergency national security council meeting to discuss Seoul's response. The launch comes just a day after international media groups reported that the DPRK was disassembling its rocket.