Japan says DPRK rocket falls after launching: Defense Ministry Undated file Google satellite photo shows the launch pad in Tongchang-ri...

Japan says DPRK rocket falls after launching: Defense Ministry

Undated file Google satellite photo shows the launch pad in Tongchang-ri base, Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Media reports said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has launched an earth observation satellite on April 13, 2012. (Xinhua/Zhang Li)？

TOKYO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka said Friday the rocket that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched on Friday morning fell into sea after flying for more than a minute.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told reporters at an emergency press conference Friday morning that Japan has suffered "no impact of falling objects" from the launch, and the government will hold a meeting to discuss the situation immediately.

"We believe there has been no impact of falling objects" on Japan, Fujimura said at the press conference after it confirmed the launch, and said, "I would like the public to stay calm."

The rocket may have split into 4 parts which fell into the Yellow Sea after reaching 120 km high, local media reported.

But there have been no reports of damage in Japan after the DPRK rocket launch, said Fujimura.

Japan had stayed alert over DPRK's planned rocket launch on Friday.It was the second day of a five-day window Pyongyang had planned for the launch.

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have been on standby since Thursday, prior to DPRK's indicated time window for the launch from 7 a.m. to noon from Thursday to next Monday.

So far, the DPRK has neither confirmed nor denied the launch.