The South Korean defense ministry says North Korea has launched a long range rocket, despite warnings from the international community against doing so.

In the runup to the early Wednesday launch, many analysts said the rocket is a disguised ballistic missile, in violation of international regulations.

Pyongyang has vowed to proceed with the launch, despite widespread international condemnation and a series of technical difficulties.

North Korea is banned from carrying out any missile or nuclear-related tests by United Nations resolutions imposed in 2006 and 2009, after it conducted unsuccessful nuclear tests. A rocket launch in April also ended in failure.

North Korea on Monday extended the deadline for the rocket launch to December 29, after citing a “technical deficiency in the first stage control engine module of the rocket.”