Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier Friday morning failed to enter orbit, the official KCNA news agency reported.

The satellite was launched at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province at 07:38 a.m. on Friday, said the report.

South Korea, the United States, and Japan earlier confirmed the failure of the DPRK rocket launch.

South Korea's Defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seook said in a statement on Friday that the Unha-3 rocket appears to have separated into several pieces before crashing into the sea a few minutes after takeoff.

(China.org.cn, CNTV April 13, 2012)

據朝中社報道，朝鮮周五早間發射的地球觀測衛星“光明星3號”未能進入軌道。

周五早上7時38分，朝鮮在平壤以北的鐵山郡西海衛星發射場發射了這枚衛星。

韓國、美國、日本均已確認朝鮮火箭發射失敗。

韓國國防部發言人金珉奭稱，“銀河3號”火箭在發射數分鐘后即解體并墜入海中。