North Korea announced this evening that it had succeeded in placing a "reconnaissance satellite" into Earth's orbit, its KCNA news agency reported.
The South Korean military confirmed this, stating that Pyongyang had launched a "military spy satellite".
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the move by North Korea, because "even though they call it a satellite, launching something that uses ballistic missile technology is a clear violation of UN resolutions."
The launch was also condemned by the USA - because ballistic missile technology was used.
"That launch is a flagrant violation of several UN Council resolutions and thereby increases tension with the risk of destabilization in the region and beyond," the White House said.
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