The United States is tracking a North Korean long-range rocket, but it does not pose a threat to the US or its allies, Yonhap quoted a US Defense Department official as saying on Saturday.

"We are tracking it. It does not pose a danger to the US or allies. We will provide an update soon," the Pentagon official said on the condition of anonymity.

The North fired the rocket from its northwest Dongchang-ri launch site at 9:30 a.m. (Korean time), one month after its fourth nuclear test, sending the already-high tensions on the Korean Peninsula soaring higher.

The launch, which is banned under UN resolutions, came as the UN Security Council has been working on a new resolution imposing sanctions on Pyongyang for the nuclear test and is sure to spark stronger calls to punish the communist nation.

Source: MENA