Global Condemnation In Response To North Korea Rocket Launch, But New Sanctions Unlikely

Global coverage is revolving and will continue to revolve around the North Korean rocket launch conducted successfully on Wednesday. As of 6am Eastern Time Reuters had published its eighth update on the story, with bullet-points conveying NORAD confirmation that the payload appears to have achieved orbit and highlighting condemnations from Washington and Beijing. North Korean news outlets were typically fulsome, describing how "at a time when great yearnings and reverence for Kim Jong-il pervade the whole country, its scientists and technicians brilliantly carried out his behests to launch a scientific and technological satellite." Restrained statements from China indicate that Beijing is prepared to block efforts in the United Nations Security Council to impose tougher sanctions on Pyongyang in response to the launch.