South Korea aims to join a group of nine others who have succeeded in putting domestically developed scientific satellites into orbit.

North Korea, the country's Stalinist neighbour, said earlier it was to carefully monitor international reactions to the launch. The country was the target of international criticism after launching a long-range missile in April, claiming it was to put a satellite into orbit.

The launch is widely believed to have been a test for North Korea's long-range ballistic missile programme. Both Washington and Seoul have said no satellite was launched.