Seoul/Tokyo/Washington - North Korea launched a rocket early Sunday and claimed to have put a satellite into orbit, drawing sharp international criticism as well as doubts about whether a satellite was really launched or if so, had actually achieved orbit.

While North Korea, via its state-controlled media, said that an "experimental communications satellite" was in orbit and functioning smoothly, independent US and South Korean accounts raised doubts about the claim.

The launching came in defiance of appeals and calls by North Korea's neighbours in Asia and countries around the world to refrain from a rocket launch, with Japan, South Korea and the US regarding it as a screen to test a ballistic missile.

In Seoul, the news agency Yonhap cited the South Korean presidential office as saying that the satellite lauch was unsuccessful.

In the US, the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), also reported that after the rocket launch, no object had been observed going into orbit.

Independent of whether the rocket succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit, the North Korean launching drew severe criticism from around the world, with the next step in the situation to be a meeting in New York of the UN Security Council.

North Korea's official radio station said Sunday the country had successfully sent a satellite called Kwangmyongsong-2, into orbit. he launch occurred around 11:30 am (0230 GMT) from North Korea's base on its east coast, officials said.

   US President Barack Obama called it a "provocative act."

   "North Korea's development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the north-east Asian region and to international peace and security," Obama said in a statement issued from Prague, where was attending the US-European Union Summit.

"We will immediately consult with our allies in the region, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, and members of the UN Security Council to bring this matter before the Council," he said.

   Japan requested an emergency Security Council session to deal with questions raised by the launch, a United Nations spokesman said.

   Shortly after the launch was confirmed, the Japanese government lodged a protest with the Stalinist state, calling its act a threat to "regional peace and stability."

   Prime Minister Taro Aso condemned the act and said it "cannot be overlooked."

   "We have to say that it is an act of provocation against security and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said. "It is extremely regrettable."

   The Japanese government plans to extend economic sanctions against North Korea for another year beyond the April 13 deadline.

   The sanctions would ban exports and restrict goods to be carried by those who enter North Korea. Japan imposed bans on the Mangyongbong-92 ferry's entry into the country, as well as imports, after North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles in July 2006 and conducted a nuclear test in October the same year.

   The government would take concerted actions with other nations concerned, the Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said, adding that "flying a projectile over another country is extremely problematic even if it (North Korea) has taken procedural steps."

   The Chinese government called for calm to prevail after the Sunday's launch was confirmed.

   "We hope relevant parties will exercise restraint and remain calm, properly handle and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region," the foreign ministry said in a statement from Beijing. "China is willing to continue to play a constructive role."

   The White House said the launch of what it identified as a Taepo- dong 2 missile was in violation of a UN Security Council resolution that bans Pyongyang from conducting ballistic missile activities.

   "With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations," Obama said.

In Prague, a declaration by the European Union presidency said the EU strongly condemned the North Korean rocket launch which it said was in violation of UN Resolution 1718.

"These actions place additional strains on regional stability at a time when the unresolved nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula requires mutual confidence building," the EU said.

In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused Pyongyang of pursuing a "hostile policy" towards the world. Miliband said that the launch was part of North Korea's "ballistic missile programme" in violation of the UN Security Council.

"While Pyongyang continues to pursue a hostile policy towards the rest of the world, it cannot hope to take its rightful place within the international community," Miliband said.