BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel on Thursday urged North Korea to "respect and comply with its international obligations" after it launched a long-range rocket.

"Israel is deeply concerned by the latest launching of a long-range missile by North Korea in defiance of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," the Israeli foreign ministry said.

"North Korea should indeed respect and comply with its international obligations and pursue policies and actions that contribute to regional peace and security rather than undermine them."

North Korea launched a rocket Wednesday after announcing it was sending a satellite into space and gave international agencies notice of a planned trajectory.

Part of the trajectory included flying over territory belonging to Japan.