North Korea rocket launch fails.

North Korea's keenly-watched rocket launch has failed, Pyongyang has confirmed.

According to BBC News, the rocket - seen by many as a banned test of long-range missile technology - was launched from north-west North Korea early on Friday.

The US, Japan and South Korea said it had flown only for a short time before breaking up and crashing into waters off the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea said its scientists were assessing what had caused the failure.

According to North Korea, the aim of the rocket was to launch a satellite into orbit - a move marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il-sung.

But the US and other nations say the launch constituted a disguised test of long-range missile technology banned under UN resolutions.

In a statement, the White House condemned the launch, despite its failure. The UN Security Council is due to meet later in the day to discuss the launch.

The rocket went up at 07:39 local time (22:39 GMT Thursday), South Korean officials said.
Its intended flight path would have taken it south, to the west of the Korean peninsula between Japan and the Philippines.