North Korea has launched a rocket likely connected to its planned space satellite, according to South Korea.
Air raid sirens sounded off across South Korea’s capital, Seoul, on Wednesday morning following the launch of a rocket from North Korea’s Tongchang county.
It comes after North Korea announced plans to launch its first military spy satellite.
Pyongyang previously said the launch would take place between 31 May and 11 June.
South Korea’s military described Wednesday’s rocket by its neighbour as a “space-launch vehicle”.
The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday did not immediately provide further details.
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Officials in South Korea’s capital of Seoul sent alerts over public speakers and smartphones for residents to prepare for evacuation.
However, there were no immediate reports of damages or disruption.
The Japanese government also issued an emergency warning over its J-Alert broadcasting system following the rocket’s launch.
Japan’s coast guard said on Monday that North Korea informed it of a plan to launch a satellite between 31 May and 11 June.
A satellite launch by North Korea is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions that ban the country from using ballistic technology because it is regarded as a cover for missile tests.
Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter were pictured examining the country’s first military spy satellite.
During his visit, Kim approved an unspecified “future action plan” in preparations for launching the satellite, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
This story originally appeared on Skynews
