North Korean tv airs rocket video

Apr 7 - North Korean state television (KRT) shows video purportedly of Sunday's controversial rocket launch, claiming the missile successfully put a satellite into space.

The images showed a rocket taking off from the Musudan-ri missile base in the northeast of the country.

The rocket launch on Sunday (April 6, 2009) provoked a wave of condemnation from a raft of nations, including the U.S. and Japan and led to fierce debate at the UN Security Council.

Western analysts think the rocket, which soared over Japan during its 3,200 km (2,000 mile) flight, was in fact the test of a ballistic missile system with a potential range capable of carrying a warhead as far as the U.S. state of Alaska.

Pyonyang's claim to have put a satellite into orbit is also dismissed by the U.S. and its allies.