Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- North Korea 's neighbors have condemned the secretive nation 's launch of a long-range rocket , with Seoul calling the launch a `` challenge and threat '' to stability on the Korean peninsula and the world at large . The rocket passed close to the territory of Japan and South Korea , but both have refrained from any retaliation . Japan said it did not take any action to destroy what it termed `` a missile , '' which passed over its territory near the island of Okinawa , and had not seen any signs of damage . Japan 's Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said the launch was `` extremely regrettable . '' Beijing , North Korea 's main ally in the region , took a softer line . North Korea silences doubters , raises fears with rocket launch . Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei expressed regret at North Korea 's decision to launch despite the concerns of the international community . `` We hope relevant parties stay calm in order to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula , '' the spokesman said . South Korea 's government urged North Korea not to devote resources to developing missiles . `` North Korea will be further isolated from the international community after this launch , '' a statement from the presidential Blue House said . Debris from the rocket landed 300 km east of the Philippines , which urged Pyongyang to `` desist from acts of provocation . '' A special broadcast on North Korean television struck a triumphant tone , declaring that its rocket had successfully put a satellite into orbit . The stakes were high after a botched attempt at launching a rocket in April . Ordinary South Koreans , meanwhile , worried about the motivations behind the launch . `` Confrontation is n't good , it will also cause military tension , but I think North Korea just wanted to show off , '' Kim Hyun-ok said . `` I am not happy with the continuous confrontation this launch will cause . '' In a commentary published by state news agency Xinhua earlier in the day , Beijing said there was a `` dangerous lack of trust '' between North Korea and Japan , South Korea and the United States . It said Pyongyang should abide by U.N. resolutions but that the country had `` the right to conduct peaceful exploration of outer space . '' North Korea shouts 'look at me ' with rocket . Its reaction to North Korea 's move and how it responds to any U.N. Security Council initiatives will be key . Japan has asked for a meeting of the Security Council and reports Wednesday suggest that a meeting may take place later in the day . Beijing is a major source of aid for North Korea and is thought to have the most leverage when it comes to reining in its nuclear ambitions . Analysts say , however , that Beijing is unlikely to take a hard line on its neighbor . China is thought to be primarily concerned with maintaining the status quo on the Korean peninsula given that any long-range missiles developed by North Korea are unlikely to be aimed at Beijing . Why did North Korea launch a rocket ? `` From China 's perspective it has very little interest or need to come down very hard on North Korea until the U.S , Japan and South Korea make it clear to China that allowing North Korea to do this is going to be more costly than cracking down on them , '' said Dean Cheng , research fellow in Chinese Political and Security Affairs at the Heritage Foundation . Cheng added that China does not have many subtle tools at its disposal when it comes to influencing Pyongyang 's behavior . `` What they have is a giant hammer . They could hurt North Korea by shutting down all economic relations and trade , but that would likely generate a large number of refugees , something the Chinese are n't interested in . '' American detained in North Korea . The U.N. has already passed two resolutions aimed at preventing North Korea from launching ballistic missile technology and suspending all activities related to its missile program . North Korea claims the rocket tests will enable it to launch a satellite but many nations consider the launches a cover for testing ballistic missiles . The U.S. tried to tighten sanctions against North Korea in the wake of April 's failed launch by targeting banks , businesses and government entities that are violating the resolutions , but China vetoed all but three of the 40 entities the U.S. had suggested should be added to the sanction list . The other forum for engaging Pyongyang are the `` six-party talks '' between South Korea , Japan , China , the U.S. and Russia . Plans to resume the talks after Kim Jong Un took power in December , following the death of his father , were scuppered after North Korea 's failed missile launch in April . Timeline : North Korea 's rocket-fueled obsession . CNN 's KJ Kwon in Seoul , Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo and Hilary Whiteman in Hong Kong contributed to this report .
Japan and South Korea decry North Korean missile launch . NEW : China regrets launch and urges calm . Beijing emerges as having most control over North Korea . How China responds to new initiatives will be key .