UPDATED: 11/12/12 10:42 p.m.
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)-- North Korea's state broadcaster has announced on TV that Pyongyang's rocket launch was a success.
North Koreans watching TV in Pyongyang broke out into applause after the noon (0300GMT) broadcast Wednesday, about two hours after the launch from a west coast station.
State media said the Unha rocket sent a satellite into space. U.S. officials said they had no immediate confirmation that any device reached orbit.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)-- South Korea says North Korea has fired a long-range rocket in a defiant move just days ahead of South Korea's presidential election.
It was the second rocket launch under leader Kim Jong Un. Kim took power following his father Kim Jong Il's death one year ago.
It wasn't immediately clear if the rocket launch Wednesday morning succeeded. A similar launch in April broke apart shortly after liftoff.
Officials at South Korea's Defense Ministry and its Joint Chiefs of Staff who confirmed the launch spoke anonymously because of department rules.
The United Nations, Washington, Seoul and others condemned Pyongyang for the launches. Washington calls them a cover to test technology for missiles that could be used to strike the United States.
North Korea says its putting a monitoring satellite into orbit.
