The launch marks "yet another example of North Korea's pattern of irresponsible behaviour," White House National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.
The move triggered plans for an emergency session Wednesday of the UN Security Council, which has imposed sanctions against North Korea over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) officials said North Korea appeared to have successfully launched "an object" into orbit, marking a technological success for the hermit nation.
Washington and its allies have long insisted such launches are disguised tests for an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
"Given this current threat to regional security, the United States will strengthen and increase our close coordination with allies and partners," Vietor said.
"North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in such provocative acts.
"Devoting scarce resources to the development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons has not brought it security and acceptance by the international community – and never will," he added.
Norad said early indications suggested that the first stage of the rocket fell into the Yellow Sea, and estimated that the second stage fell into the Philippine Sea.
"Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit," it added. "At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America."
UN Security Council to meet launch
The UN Security Council will meet Wednesday to discuss North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket in defiance of threats of sanctions, a Western diplomat said.
"The Japanese and the Americans have requested a Security Council meeting, which will take place late Wednesday morning" around 11:00 am (1700 GMT), the diplomat said.
Japan's chief government spokesman Osamu Fujimura told reporters in Tokyo that the Japanese envoy had already called for UN Security Council president Morocco to "swiftly summon" the council to a meeting.
The Western diplomat predicted the special talks would likely see a "strong response" at the council to the rocket launch that Seoul, Tokyo and their Western allies swiftly condemned as a disguised ballistic missile test that violates UN resolutions triggered by Pyongyang's two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
North Korea had confirmed hours earlier the launch of a long-range rocket and said it had succeeded in its mission of placing a satellite into orbit.
A previous launch of the same Unha-3 rocket in April had ended in failure, with the carrier exploding shortly after take-off.
In 2006, the Security Council imposed an embargo against North Korea on arms and material for ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. It also banned imports of luxury goods and named individuals and companies to be subject to a global assets freeze and travel ban.
In 2009, it imposed a ban on North Korea's weapons exports and ordered all countries to search suspect shipments.
According to Japanese reports, Japan, the United States and South Korea have agreed to demand the Security Council strengthen sanctions on North Korea to levels that match those on Iran.
That would include increasing the list of financial institutions, entities and individuals subject to asset freezes.
Much will depend on the stance taken by UN veto holder China, North Korea's sole major ally and its biggest trade partner and aid provider.
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North Korean and Pakistan have three things in common - the bomb, abject poverty and their people are actually shrinking because of lack of nutrition. N Korea used to be the most despised country on the planet -- but guess who took their place? http://tribune.com.pk/story/380329/iran-pakistan-israel-most-negatively-rated-countries-globally-bbc-poll/
@muhammad yasin: I hope you are aware of the sad plight of North Korean people who are dying of hunger as three lacs have already died of hunger and malnutrition during the past five years whereas their authoritarian govt is spending millions on upgrading missiles, nuclear arsenal and other military infrastructure. The GDP growth rate has gone into negative as no country except China is ready to make any investment in this country. This country ranks lowest in human rights record as descent from any of its citizen is not tolerated and they are put either in concentration camps to do hard labour for life or killed along with their families. The common people do not have access to internet, private cars are owned by high ranked govt officials only and 65 pc people in the country own cycles as means of conveyance. Pakistan too is following the North Korean ideology by spending major part of its budget on defence ie nuclear arsenal, missiles and other defence machinery to be at par with India by curtailing expenditure on education, health, and basic infrastructure of roads, railways, gas exploration etc. I sincerely hope that Pakistan change its coarse soon and don't go the North Korean way.
It is good to see more and more countries ignoring the US and all its minions in the UN. The UN is becoming more and more a failed body. It has pathetic double standards and is so discriminatory it would be amusing if the results of what it is doing were not so tragic.
No doubt GK. By the grace of God,Pakistan is a nuclear power, my comparison with Iran and NK was not with reference to our technological progress but with refrence to the resistence shown by NK and Iran, who are facing all types of economic sanctions,US and its allies could impose on both the countries, yet they did not bow as we are doing and till date, our governments are seen begging for aid out of Coilation Support Program and other aid tools offered by US in return to compromise on our sovereignity by allowing it to carry out drone attacks and kill our innocent people.
Good work north korea, Pakistan is also very well progressing in developing new technology as far as arms are concerned. Like it or not.
@muhammad yasin: .
not only that. soon pakistan will test rife its first long range missile.
Hatts off to North Korea and Iran for foot downing the threats and sanctions by US,its handpicked UN and other cronies, over their nuclear program. Each success by NK and Iran adds a slap on the face of US and its allies and is a lesson for countries like Pakistan who are always seen begging with a bowl before them.