North Korea carries out controversial rocket launch By Paul Armstrong, CNN December 12, 2012 -- Updated 0139 GMT (0939 HKT) North Korea technicians work at the satellite control room of the space center on the outskirts of Pyongyang on April 11, 2012. Long-range rocket launched by North Korea, South Korea and Japan says Japan: Rocket passed over island of Okinawa but no attempt was made to shoot it down Move comes as a surprise after North Korea had extended the launch window U.S., South Korea say the rocket launch is a cover for testing ballistic missile technology Hong Kong (CNN) -- North Korea has carried out the launch of a long-range rocket, South Korea's Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. "Shortly after the liftoff, Aegis radar system in the Yellow Sea detected the move," a senior military official was quoted by South Korea's semi-official Yonhap press agency as saying. The Japanese government also told CNN by phone that it took place at 9.49 a.m. local time and passed over the island of Okinawa, though no action was taken to shoot it down. The news comes as a surprise after North Korea announced Monday that it was extending the launch window into late December, citing technical issues in an engine. On Tuesday, satellite images purportedly showed the rocket being moved from the launch pad, Yonhap said. The test has been widely condemned by other countries like the United States and South Korea, which say it is a cover for testing ballistic missile technology. The North insists the launch is aimed at putting a scientific satellite into orbit. But on Saturday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the launch could be delayed. Previous launch attempts by the North in 2006 and 2009 also failed to achieve their stated goal of putting a satellite into orbit and provoked international condemnation. CNN's Jethro Mullen, K.J. Kwon and Junko Ogura contributed to this report.