North Korea launches rocket

The US and its allies have condemned North Korea for launching a satellite rocket which broke up over the sea shortly after take-off.



Washington says the communist state has further isolated itself from the outside world and has accused it of threatening regional security.



In an unusual step, the North reportedly admitted the launch had failed but its planned celebrations in Pyongyang went ahead.



It said the official reason for the launch had been to put a satellite into orbit in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the state's founder, Kim Il-sung.



However critics saw the launch as an illegal test of long-range missile technology.