DPRK launches satellite: Yonhap

A DPRK soldier stands in front of the Unha 3 rocket at the launch site in Tongchang-ri, on April 8, 2012. [Photo/IC]

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launches a long-range rocket Sunday morning as planned, according to a report by South Korean news agency Yonhap.

The long-range rocket was launched from DPRK's Tongchang-ri rocket launch station, Yonhap news agency reported citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Japanese government said Sunday that a rocket launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea headed to the direction of Japan's southernmost Okinawa Prefecture, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

Regardless of its true nature, the launch marks a negative development of the situation on the Korean Penisula as it has sparked extensive world anxiety and concern.

China on Friday said it opposes unilateral sanctions against the DPRK, for efforts to avoid complicating the situation.

"China is against any unilateral sanction in international affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press briefing in response to possible U.S. sanctions against the DPRK.

Expectations emerged for the Sunday launch as the DPRK moved up its rocket launch window to Feb. 7-14 from the previous Feb. 8-25. Pyongyang informed the International Maritime Organization on Saturday of the revised plan, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

In May 1993, the DPRK test-fired a medium-range Rodong ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.