North Korea used a long-range rocket to launch a satellite into space on Sunday, sparking strong condemnation from the United Nations Security Council, which called the rocket launch a violation of multiple U.N. resolutions and moved quickly to impose new sanctions, reported AFP.
Pyongyang insists that the launch was peaceful and part of its space exploration program, but the international community largely views it as a covert ballistic missile test. It came after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test last month, which it claims was a hydrogen bomb.
The U.N. Security Council held an urgent meeting Sunday in response to the satellite launch and concluded that North Korea violated U.N resolutions banning it from developing its nuclear program. A U.N. statement noted that Security Council members have previously threatened "further significant measures" if North Korea conducted another launch and will now ""adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution with such measures in response to these dangerous and serious violations," according to CNN.
The U.S., South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Britain, France, the European Union and NATO have all condemned the launch.
"This is the second time in just over a month that the [North Korea] has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement. "We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan."
North Korea's Kwangmyongsong carrier rocket took off from the western part of the country on Sunday at 9:29 a.m. local time, or Saturday at 7:29 p.m. EST, according to ABC News.
The missile flew over Japan and landed in the ocean near the Philippines, sending at least two new objects into Earth's orbit - the satellite and the final stage of the rocket booster.
The launch prompted the U.S. and South Korea to renew talks on deploying a controversial high-altitude missiles defense system in the region - the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD - which is adamantly opposed by China, Russia and North Korea, reported The Independent.
