North Korea launched a long-range rocket Wednesday morning despite international opposition and growing tensions in the region. Pyongyang claimed the Unha-3 rocket successfully delivered a scientific satellite into orbit.

Seoul has strongly condemned the launch as a violation of UN resolutions, with the South Korean president calling for an emergency meeting over the issue. The launch was confirmed by officials at the South Korean Defense Ministry and its Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Shortly after liftoff, the Aegis radar system in the Yellow Sea detected the move," a senior South Korean military official said, Yonhap news agency reports.

North Korea said the Unha-3 rocket delivered a Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite into orbit as planned.

"The second version of satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 successfully lifted off from the Sohae Space Center by carrier rocket Unha-3 on Wednesday," the official Korean Central News Agency said. "The satellite entered its preset orbit.".........

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