North Korean Rocket Fails ... Now What?

North Korea has made good on a promise to launch a long-range rocket, but there are doubts the rocket successfully carried a satellite into orbit as Pyongyang claims.

North Korea insisted this was a peaceful test about launching a communications satellite into space.

CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen reports that the U.S. had reconnaissance planes up and monitoring; the U.S., South Korea and Japan had destroyers along the missile's path; and Japan deployed Patriot anti-missile batteries. But in the end not a shot was fired.

The first stage of the rocket splashed down west of Japan. The second dropped into the Pacific.

As for getting a satellite into orbit, the U.S. military said it didn't happen. That will not be music to the ears of North Korea's leaders because the satellite was supposed to transmit to the world - quote "The Song of Kim Jong Il."

As always, the hunt is on for a motive: Why fire a missile and rattle nerves across Asia?

Some see the launch as a somewhat bizarre but probably effective cry for help.

Colombia University professor Gerald Curtis, who visited North Korea recently, said, "I think we have a real opportunity. If you take a really optimistic view, this is an effort to send a signal to the Obama administration they want to talk."

Although the North Koreans said the purpose of the launch was to put into Earth orbit a communications satellite - a small round object that would circle the globe beeping much like Sputnik did 50 years ago - almost everyone believes the satellite was just a cover story for a ballistic missile test.

After all, said CBS News national security correspondent David Martin, "What does the most reclusive nation in the world need with a communication satellite?"

The last time the North Koreans tried such a launch, in 2006, the missile failed after just 40 seconds. This time the first two stages appeared to have performed as advertised. It was the third stage, the one that is supposed to boost the satellite into orbit that failed to perform.

At Japan's request, the U.N. Security Council approved an emergency session for Sunday afternoon in New York. CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk said, "Regardless of the response at the U.N., the intent of the U.S., stated by President Obama, is to get the North Korean government back to the six-party talks which includes the two Koreas, Japan, China, the U.S. and Russia, and, ultimately, to get the government of Pyongyang back to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, from which it withdrew."

In Prague, where he had traveled following yesterday's summit meeting of NATO leaders, President Obama issued a statement admonishing North Korea. He used a previously scheduled speech on eliminating nuclear weapons to argue that that need is now greater than ever.

"This provocation underscores the need for action - not just this afternoon at the U.N. Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons. Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something. The world must stand together to prevent the spread of these weapons.

"Now is the time for a strong international response. North Korea must know that the path to security and respect will never come through threats and illegal weapons. And all nations must come together to build a stronger, global regime."

But as CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Chip Reid notes, North Korea has ignored this kind of global pressure before, so there's no telling if it will have any effect this time.