N Korea launches long-range rocket inspite international protests

Defying US warnings and threats of international sanctions, North Korea has gone ahead with its plan of launching a long-range rocket, which the international community fears might be a disguised test for a long-range ballistic missile.

US says the launch as a provocative act
State Department spokesmsan Fred Lash said the department had received confirmation of the launch from its operations center at 10:30 pm local time (0230 GMT).

"We look on this as a provocative act and certainly would -- from the United States -- take appropriate steps to let North Korea know that it can't threaten the safety and security of other countries with impunity and acts like these," Lash told reporters.