Japanese authorities were shocked on Wednesday by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's satellite launch, despite the fact that there was no damage and no debris fell on Japan.

Observers were concerned that more radical voices may overreact to Pyongyang's rocket launch during Japan's election campaign and influence a new government's hard-line defense policies.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujiwara, speaking at a hastily called news conference at the Japanese prime minister's office, said: "The act is unacceptable, and we will lodge a strong protest against Pyongyang."