South Korea Launches Rocket into Space

This was South Korea's first rocket launch from its own territory. Since 1992, it has launched 11 satellites, but all were on foreign-made rockets and launched from foreign sites.

This rocket was built with the help of Russia. It was carrying a domestically built satellite aimed at observing the atmosphere and ocean.

However, reports are that the satellite failed to enter its planned orbit. Given that, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called it a "half success."

In April, North Korea claimed it launched a multistage satellite-carrying rocket. The U.S., Japan and other nations condemned the launch as a test of ballistic missile technology. The other countries claimed there was no evidence a satellite was mounted, and the same rocket can be mounted with a warhead.