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S.Korea says DPRK failed to put satellite into orbit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-05 19:31

SEOUL -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) failed to send a satellite into orbit, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said Sunday.

The DPRK official media reported earlier that it had successfully launched a rocket carrying a communications satellite.

The "Unha-2" rocket was launched at 11:20 am local time (0220 GMT) from the East Sea Launch Ground in the east coast of the country, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The "Kwangmyongsong-2" satellite was sent into orbit at 11:29 am local time (0229 GMT), the KCNA report said.

The UN Security Council approved an emergency session Sunday to deal with the rocket launch after Japan submitted a formal request.

The DPRK said it put an experimental satellite "Kwangmyongsong- 1" into orbit in August 1998.