North Korea successfuly launched a long-range missile. It insists that the launch was not a banned inter-continental missile test, but only a mission to place a scientific satellite in orbit.

However, neighbouring countries Japan and South Korea along with The US are fearful that the launch is being used as cover for testing long range ballistic missiles.

Long range ballistic missile is a missile that can travel large distances. So, it can even travel from one continent to the other. The missile can sometimes even carry a bomb.