China regrets DPRK rocket launch

China has expressed regret over the rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on Wednesday.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, made the remarks at a news briefing.

According to its official news agency, the DPRK successfully launched and orbited a satellite earlier on Wednesday.

The blast-off is DPRK's second bid this year and its fifth attempt since 1998 to launch a long-range rocket.

The United States says that the launches are disguised ballistic missile tests and violate UN resolutions.

Pyongyang, whose attempt in April ended in failure, has countered that the satellite is for peaceful scientific purposes only and that it will abide by international rules.