India has said that it amounted to violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874.

“This unwarranted action by the Government of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has adversely impacted peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. India calls on DPRK to refrain from such actions,” said the Spokesperson of Indian External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin.

North Korea successfully launched a rocket on Wednesday saying that it has put a weather satellite into orbit.

According to defence officials in South Korea and Japan the rocket was launched at 0100 GMT.

While North Korea announced with pride through its official TV channel saying “the satellite has entered its planned orbit,” the US, South Korea and Japan have termed it as a test of technology that could carry nuclear warhead capable of hitting far off targets. North Korea’s ally, China remained cautious in its approach.

After the announcement in official North Korean TV channel by the news reader clad in traditional Korean garb, the station played patriotic songs with lyrics “Chosun (Korea) does what it says.”

The North Korean news agency, KCNA said : 'At a time when great yearnings and reverence for Kim Jong-il pervade the whole country, its scientists and technicians brilliantly carried out his behests to launch a scientific and technological satellite in 2012, the year marking the 100th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung,'

Kim Il Sung was the first North Korean leader and grandfather of the present North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. Thus the launch is claimed to exhibit the prowess of all three heads of the Kim regime established in 1948.

The KCNA quoted a North Korean official saying 'the attempt to see our satellite launch as a long-range missile launch for military purposes comes from hostile perception that tries to designate us a cause for security tension.'

Regarding the North Korean satellite launch, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said that it 'deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit', the first time an independent body has verified North Korean claims.

The UN Security Council had imposed sanctions on North Korea in 2006 after its first nuclear test. The sanctions were made tougher after North Korea’s successful satellite launch with nuclear test in 2009.

North Korea is banned from developing nuclear and missile-related technology under U.N. resolutions, although Kim Jong-un, the youthful head of state who took power a year ago, is believed to have continued the state's 'military first' programmes put in place by his late father, Kim Jong-il.

After 2009, North Korea conducted a satellite launch in April, this year and it failed as it flew for less than two minutes.

According to some experts the present launch of the satellite was intended to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il who died in December 17, 2011 and was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-un – called the youngest leader aged 29.

The unsuccessful April satellite launch was timed for the centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the first North Korean leader.

The US condemned the present satellite launch as 'provocative' and a breach of the UN, while Japan's UN envoy called for a Security Council meeting.

'The international community must work in a concerted fashion to send North Korea a clear message that its violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions have consequences,' the White House said in a statement.

US intelligence has linked North Korea with missile shipments to Iran. Newspapers in Japan and South Korea have reported that Iranian observers were in the North for the launch, which Iran has denied.

Japan's prime ministerial candidate, Shinzo Abe urged UN to adopt a resolution 'strongly criticising' Pyongyang.

However, it seems unlikely that UNSC will take any stringent actions against North Korea as China, which has veto power, may not support such a move.

Though China had expressed 'deep concern' prior to the launch which was announced a day after a top politburo member, representing new Chinese leader Xi Jinping, met Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, it is evasive in its comments after the launch.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has said : “China believes the Security Council's response should be cautious and moderate, protect the overall peaceful and stable situation on the Korean peninsula, and avoid an escalation.'

Signals are, therefore, clear that UNSC may not be able to take much a stringent action against North Korea, this time