Pyongyang:
Defying US warnings and threats of international sanctions, North Korea went ahead and launched a long-range rocket on Sunday.
The nation claims this is a communications satellite, which has been placed successfully into space, but the US and South Korea say the attempt was unsuccessful.
What's really worrying the global community and Japan and the US in particular is that the test has established that N Korea can launch long-range ballistic missiles, which can even carry nuclear warheads as far as the US.
In the end, Japan didn't fire missiles against North Korea's rocket. But officials were nonetheless furious because the long-range rocket showed Pyongyang has the technology to attack any part of Japan and even Alaska.
North Korea has said it developed the rocket and satellite "by our own wisdom and technology" and its aim is to enhance the nation's space programme. But that hasn't cut ice with the international community.
While Japan called it regrettable, America has termed it provocative.
"Launch of the missile will see action. North Korea has isolated itself from the world," US President Barack Obama said.
The UN may tighten sanctions against North Korea imposed after its nuclear test in 2006. But that may not be enough to stop the rogue country from using Sunday's rocket as a missile.