April 12, 2012 7:17 PM

North Korea fires long-range rocket; rocket launch may have failed

North Korea's Unha-3 rocket, slated for liftoff between April 12-16, stands at Sohae Satellite Station in Tongchang-ri, North Korea on Sunday April 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

(CBS/AP) SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea has fired a long-range rocket, top U.S. and South Korean officials confirm. But a top U.S. official tells the Associated Press that the rocket "may have failed."
South Korean defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters in a nationally televised news conference that the rocket was fired at 7:39 a.m.
A U.S. official told Reuters Thursday: "We are confirming the rocket launched." The White House said it would release a statement on the launch shortly, and South Korean presidency was set to hold an emergency meeting.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57413401/north-korea-fires-long-range-rocket/?tag=stack

gaw

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