Seoul`s defense ministry said the Unha-3 rocket took off from the Dongchang-ri launch site in the North`s northwest at 7:39 a.m., but appears to have separated into several pieces before crashing into the sea a few minutes after takeoff.
Nearly four hours later, however, Pyongyang`s media has remained silent on the rocket launch itself.
A North Korean space official said he has "no information" on the rocket launch, though he said the North Korean authorities will release relevant information in due course, Japan`s Kyodo news agency reported.
The North`s official Korean Central News Agency did not report anything on the rocket launch.
South Korea condemned the rocket launch as a provocative threat to peace and stability in Northeast Asia and pressed the North to take full responsibility for any repercussions.
"Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea`s provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.
The Unha-3 rocket exploded soon after a lift-off and disintegrated into about 20 pieces as it crashed into the international waters off South Korea`s west coast, according to South Korea`s Defense Ministry.
The ministry said South Korea`s military was searching the area to try to recover rocket fragments. The North has threatened to immediately and mercilessly retaliate against any country that intercepts a North Korean rocket booster or collects the rocket debris.
The failure came as North Korea`s rubber-stamp parliament was to hold a session on Friday, the latest in a string of political events apparently aimed at consolidating new leader Kim Jong-un`s power.
On Wednesday, Kim assumed the top post of the country`s ruling Workers` Party in a special session. He was named the party`s first secretary and also elected as a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the party`s Central Committee.
There is no word yet in the KCNA whether the North`s Supreme People`s Assembly has convened.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
