Asia, Rocket Launch | featured news

North Korea has launched a long-range rocket in defiance of international criticism, South Korean media reports.

Russia and China urged North Korea on Monday not to go ahead with a plan for its second rocket launch of 2012, with Moscow saying any such move would violate restrictions imposed by the U.N. Security Council.

North Korea announced Saturday that it will send a long-range rocket into space this month, trying to make up for a public relations disaster in April when a much-hyped launch failed.

A half dozen ominous new North Korean missiles showcased at a lavish military parade were clumsy fakes, analysts say, casting more doubt on the country's claims of military prowess after its recent rocket launch failure....

China has provided some assistance to North Korea's missile program, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday, a week after the hermit state's failed rocket launch triggered international condemnation.

N. Korea's Kim Jong Un, during celebration, addresses public for first time since Friday's failed rocket launch.

North Korea said its much hyped long-range rocket launch failed on Friday, in a very rare and embarrassing public admission of failure by the hermit state and a blow for its new young leader who faces international outrage over the attempt.

North Korea did not launch its long-range rocket Thursday, but the country reiterated a message that it shouldn’t be punished when it goes ahead with the blast sometime within its stated five-day window.

A South Korean space rocket carrying a scientific satellite exploded two minutes into its flight in the second failure in two tries to put a payload in orbit, dealing a major setback to the country's space program.