North Korea launches suspected spy satellite, South Korea says

South Korea's military said the rocket was believed to be carrying a spy satellite and was launched toward the south. North Korea had notified Japan it planned to launch a satellite between Wednesday and Dec. 1.

North Korea conducted a rocket launch believed to be carrying a satellite on Tuesday, South Korea and Japan said, in what would be Pyongyang's third attempt to place a spy satellite in orbit this year. The Japanese government issued an emergency warning for residents in the south to take cover from the possible threat of a North Korean missile.

Japan said over its J-Alert broadcasting system that North Korea appeared to have fired a missile, sending out the warning to residents in the southern prefecture of Okinawa. South Korea's military said the rocket was believed to be carrying a spy satellite and was launched toward the south.

North Korea had notified Japan it planned to launch a satellite between Wednesday and Dec. 1. Japan's Coast Guard said on Tuesday the North gave notice of the launch in the direction of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. South Korea's state maritime safety agency issued a warning to vessels of the planned launch for the same areas as previous launches.

North Korea had tried to launch what it called spy satellites twice earlier this year but failed, and South Korean officials have said in recent days that it appeared set to try again soon.