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A boy takes a video as people walk near the Araya base where PAC-3 land-to-air missiles are deployed, after a North Korean rocket was launched, in Akita

North Korea launched a rocket today, in defiance of warnings from the US and its Asian neighbours, the South Korean and Japanese governments confirmed.
Pyongyang had said it was putting a communications satellite into orbit, but Japan, South Korea and Washington believe the launch was a screen to test a ballistic missile.

The launch occurred around 11.30 am (0230 GMT) from North Korea's base on its east coast, officials said.