SEOUL, April 4 (UPI) -- North Korea launched a rocket from a base on its northeast coast Sunday, defying warnings from neighbors and the United States, a South Korean official said.
The official, who did not want his name used, told The New York Times the launch occurred at 11:30 a.m. local time, late Saturday in the United States.
North Korea claims the purpose of the rocket is to put a communications satellite into orbit but U.S. and Japanese officials say it is a cover for a test of a long-range missile capable of reaching the United States.
North Korea had been expected to fire the rocket Saturday after monitoring equipment at the launch site had been spotted and its official news agency released a statement saying the launch was imminent. At least nine U.S., South Korean and Japanese ships were in the area for monitoring.
During the weeks before the launch, Japan and the United States said North Korea might face new sanctions, and the South Korean government said it would consider joining a U.S. initiative to interdict ships carrying possible weapons or materials to North Korea. Pyongyang also took a hard line, suggesting Japan might face military action.
