International security

North Korea intends to continue to launch rockets, says North Korean embassy in Moscow

"The state agency on space exploration, following the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea on giving priority to science and technology, will continue to launch more man-made satellites," the embassy said in a statement, according to Interfax.

North Korea on Sunday launched a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite, but its neighbours and the United States denounced the launch as a missile test, conducted in defiance of UN sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test.

The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space, and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit.

North Korea said the launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a "complete success" and it was making a polar orbit of Earth every 94 minutes. The launch order was given by his son, leader Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be 33 years old.