White House condemns North Korea’s rocket launch

The White House late Tuesday condemned North Korea's long-range rocket launch as "highly provocative" as well as "irresponsible behavior."

National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement that the launch Tuesday was a "highly provocative act that threatens regional security, directly violates United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874, contravenes North Korea's international obligations and undermines the global nonproliferation regime."

The launch is believed to have sent an object into orbit, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The White House and members of the international community rejected the use of ballistic missile technology to accomplish the launch.

"North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in such provocative acts," Vietor said.

North Korea attempted to launch a long-range test rocket in April, but it failed and fell into the Yellow Sea.