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Watch North Korea’s First Successful Rocket Launch

North Korea has had its “Sputnik” moment on Tuesday, when it successfully launched a rocket reportedly carrying a satellite into orbit for the first time in its history. Now, we can relive the communist nation’s historic moment on YouTube.

The video shows the interior of the mission control center, as well as different views of the Unha-3 multi-stage rocket itself during the launch. At the end of the short video, which was released by the state owned TV station KCNA, a visibly excited official is interviewed about the launch.

Fifth time’s a charm for North Korea, which failed to put an object into orbit on the previous four attempts. The last one was made in April, when the rocket lasted only 90 seconds before crashing down into the Yellow Sea.

Despite the apparent success of the mission, it seems like the object orbiting Earth is now “tumbling out of control,” according to a statement released by US officials to NBC News.

The launch was widely criticized by the United States, the UN and neighboring countries like South Korea and Japan since the communist country is under international sanctions and banned from testing missiles or nuclear weapons. The regime claims this wasn’t a military mission but just a launch part of its satellite program. Despite assurances, nobody outside of North Korea actually knows exactly what the rocket carried on board nor what was the purpose of the launch.

Watch the footage of North Korea’s sputnik moment in the video above. Below you can also see a different view of the launch, captured from afar by a Japanese TV.

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/12/13/north-koreas-satellite-video/

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