The UN Security Council has condemned North Korea for its most recent rocket launch, calling it "a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions". The Council said in a statement released following a closed-door meeting on Wednesday that it will continue deliberations on an "appropriate response" and will take resolute actions if North Korea insists on conducting a new launch.

(Photo: BBC)

North Korea says it will continue to exercise its legitimate right to conduct space research programs, and repeated that its rocket launch is part of a technological development plan to support economic restructuring and the improvement of people's living standards. Pyongyang rejects all accusations that the launch was provocative.