Japan launches rocket carrying spy satellite

The H-2A satellite, which can zoom in to objects on the ground as small as cars, was launched at 1:35 pm (0435 GMT).

Japan on Monday launched a rocket carrying its third satellite to monitor communist North Korea, its first attempt to send a spy craft into space since an embarrassing failure in 2003.

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"The rocket was launched as scheduled," said an official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

The H-2A satellite, which can zoom in to objects on the ground as small as cars, was launched at 1:35 pm (0435 GMT) from southern Kagoshima prefecture. It was delayed by one day due to bad weather.