North Korea has launched a rocket likely carrying a second spy satellite

Kim Jong-un and North Korean flag (Alamy/PA)

North Korea has launched a rocket likely carrying its second military spy satellite, hours after its announcement of a plan to put a satellite into orbit drew strong rebukes from its neighbours.

South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said it detected a launch trajectory believed to be of a spy satellite fired from the North’s main space centre in the north east at 10.44pm local time on Monday.