North Korea has claimed it successfully launched a satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket from the Sohae Space Center in Cholsan County, North Phyongan province.

The country claimed the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 was an Earth observation satellite that entered its current orbit nine minutes and 45 seconds after lift-off.

However, the launch has drawn criticism from several international communities. Critics of the project allege that North Korea is using the mission to test a prohibited long-range missile that has the ability to target the US.

Korean Central Television (KCTV), the only official source of television news in the country, said that North Korea is ‘legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes’, reports Spaceflight Insider.

The Unha-3 rocket used for the launch is said to have a range of more than 10,000km and has the ability to reach the western parts of North America or to put a miniature satellite into orbit.

"Critics of the project allege that North Korea is using the mission to test a prohibited long-range missile that has the ability to target the US."

White House national security advisor Susan Rice in a statement said: "North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programmes represent serious threats to our interests, including the security of some of our closest allies, and undermine peace and security in the broader region."

Condemning the launch, members of the UN Security Council called it as ‘a clear threat to international peace and security continues to exist, especially in the context of the nuclear test.’

According to a statement by Venezuela’s ambassador, the UN will now ‘adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution with such measures in response to these dangerous and serious violations’, reports CNN.

North Korea was previously planning to launch the satellite between 8 and 25 February, but following an order by North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) advanced the launch.

It was the fourth orbital launch for the Unha family of rockets.