The North Korean government has fired a long range rocket, claiming that it was putting an earth observation satellite into orbit.
However, it is thought that the rocket was a test of banned missile technology, part of efforts to develop nuclear weapons technology.
The US and Japan condemned the launch and have requested, alongside South Korea, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch "absolutely unacceptable," saying it was a "clear violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.