UN panel condemns North Korea rocket launch

North Korea's successful test of a long-range rocket was unanimously condemned Wednesday by the UN Security Council, which called it a "clear violation" of UN prohibitions.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said the 15-member council -- which has the power to authorize sanctions -- will discuss measures to punish North Korea for violating council resolutions barring it from nuclear and ballistic-missile testing.

North Korea calls it a satellite launch, but others see it as a covert test of missile technology. The same launching mechanism used to send a satellite into space could be employed to send a long-range missile tipped with a nuclear warhead to targets as far away as Los Angeles.

U.S. missile warning systems detected and tracked the launch at 7:49 p.m. Tuesday.

North Korea had four failed tests since 1998, including April's first-stage flameout 90 seconds after launch.

President Barack Obama's administration said Wednesday it is drawing no "red line" for North Korea, tempering the public condemnation to avoid raising tensions or possibly rewarding the reclusive communist nation with too much time in the global spotlight.

The United States wants to condemn what it believes is a "highly provocative act," and that was the first public reaction from the White House late Tuesday. But it also is mindful of the turmoil on the Korean peninsula and treading carefully, offering no threat of military action or unspecified "consequences" associated with other hot spots.

China, a major ally of North Korea, expressed regret.

The launch comes a week before South Korea's presidential elections and could boost the chances of Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party over Democratic United Party rival Moon Jae-in. Park is seen as taking a harder line toward the North.