North Korea go ahead and launch rocket

On 5 April 2009 North Korea launched a rocket, which it claimed carried a communications satellite, but which government officials from Japan, South Korea and the U.S. believed to be a test of a long-range missile. Initial reports following the launch indicated that no debris fell on Japan and that no immediate retaliation would occur. International observers classified the test as a failure; however, North Korea claims that the satellite is already in orbit and has begun transmitting. Government officials from South Korea, Japan and United States issued statements condemning the launch; the U.N. Security Council held a meeting in response to the missile launch at 1900 GMT on 5 April. During the meeting, Japanese and U.S. ambassadors called for a new resolution against North Korea; however, no accord was reached. Officials indicated that it will take at least a week before the Security Council passes a resolution regarding this matter. Despite the rhetoric that surrounded the lead-up to this launch, at this point travellers and residents are unaffected. As in previous cases involving North Korean missiles and nuclear capability, the impact of the situation is confined to the diplomatic sphere.