TOKYO (Sputnik) — Earlier Sunday, North Korea fired a long-range rocket, defying a UN Security Council resolution banning Pyongyang from launching rockets that may be used as long-range ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads. Japan’s National Security Council held a meeting shortly after the incident, as the rocket flew over Japan’s Okinawa prefecture.
"The Japanese government will further strengthen its cooperation with the international community and all countries, in particular the United States, South Korea, China and Russia, in order to respond at the UN Security Council to this launch, which clearly violates UN Security Council resolutions and damages peace and security in the region, including our country, " the statement reads.
Tensions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs escalated after Pyongyang said on January 6 that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, triggering condemnation from the international community.
North Korea previously reported a successful satellite launch in 2012, in violation of the UN Security Council resolution.
