North Korea's rocket launch of earth observation satellite Kwangmyong 4. (AFP Photo)
France condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket today as "senseless provocation" and called for a "rapid and tough" response from the UN Security Council.
"France condemns with the utmost firmness the new flagrant violation by North Korea of the resolutions of the Security Council," the presidential Elysee Palace said in a statement.
"The launch... is a senseless provocation," it added, saying "France calls for a rapid and tough response from the international community at the Security Council" meeting in New York later today.