North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday that passed over Japan, the government in Tokyo said, defying calls from world leaders to scrap a plan that has caused international alarm.
The U.S. State Department confirmed North Korea had launched the rocket but had no further details. South Korea's presidential Blue House would make a statement at 11:00 p.m. EDT, KBS TV said.
Japan said the rocket's second booster stage had splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, indicating the launch had been successful.
"The projectile launched from North Korea today appears to have passed over toward the Pacific," the Japan prime minister's office said in a statement. Read more..