US President Barack Obama swiftly condemned Pyongyang's "provocative" act, South Korea denounced it as a "reckless" threat to world security, and the UN Security Council set an emergency meeting for later Sunday.

Japan said the rocket flew over its territory while the boosters landed safely in the waters off its coasts, and that it had not moved to intercept the rocket -- something North Korea had warned would be seen as an act of war.

But the launch, which the North said was a peaceful move to test a communications satellite, angered nations which have held years of nuclear disarmament talks with Kim Jong-Il's secretive communist regime.

US President Barack Obama said the North Koreans had actually launched their longest-range missile, the Taepodong-2, which could theoretically reach US territory in Alaska or Hawaii.

"With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations," Obama said.

The UN Security Council was to meet later Sunday (1900 GMT) on the matter -- something the North has previously warned would all but the spell the end of long-running talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.

Hours after several other nations confirmed the launch, the secretive communist nation's official KCNA news agency said it had put a satellite into orbit that was broadcasting "immortal revolutionary songs."

"The launch vehicle and satellite, developed by our own technology, is a proud fruit of our struggle to bring the nation's space technology to a higher level," it said.

"The success of the satellite launch gives great encouragement to the people."

The North tested the Taepodong-2, which has an estimated range of 4,100 miles (6,700 kilometres), and an atomic bomb in 2006, while in the midst of the six-nation disarmament talks.

That year the Security Council passed Resolution 1718, which imposed sanctions on the North and warned against further nuclear or missile tests.

The United States and North Korea have decades of hostility between them, dating back to the 1950-1953 Korean war which ended without a peace treaty, and Pyongyang's regime has often worried its neighbours.

"Regardless of any North Korean claims, this is provocative activity which threatens stability and peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia," South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan said.

"North Korea's launch is a clear violation of (Resolution) 1718," Yu said.

Despite the flurry of confirmations and condemnations of the launch, it was not immediately known if the exercise had succeeded. A South Korean official said Seoul believed the rocket was carrying a satellite.

"However, it does not necessarily mean that the launch was a success," the official was quoted as saying by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

Japan had taken the unusual step of authorising its military ahead of time to shoot down the incoming rocket if it threatened to land on Japanese territory, and the rocket flew over the country for several tense minutes.

But the nation's crisis centre said the rocket's boosters appeared to have plopped harmlessly into the waters off Japan's coasts just as Pyongyang had said they would -- and Japan took no action to try to bring the rocket down.

The other five nations in the disarmament talks had all called on North Korea to refrain from the launch, including China, the North's closest ally.

"We hope relevant parties will remain calm and restrained, handle the situation properly, and together maintain peace and stability in the region," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

The Taepodong-2 could theoretically reach Alaska or Hawaii at maximum range, though North Korea was not believed to have configured a warhead for it yet.

The North had given a window for the launch beginning on Saturday, and the actual launch came not long after official radio announced favourable weather conditions in the morning.

Analysts said North Korea wanted good film footage of the launch to maximise its propaganda value.

The regime is seen as eager to give its people news of a technological triumph to bolster support at a time of lingering uncertainty over the health of leader Kim.

There are widespread reports he suffered a stroke last August. While apparently largely recovered, the incident has raised questions about who would succeed the 67-year-old.

burs-mc/mtp

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