North Korea rocket launch – in pictures

A soldier stands guard in front of the Unha-3 (Milky Way 3) rocket at the West Sea Satellite Launch Site Photograph: Bobby Yip/Reuters

The Unha-3 rocket is rumoured to have the power to reach the continental United States Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

Engineers check the base of the rocket Photograph: Bobby Yip/Reuters

Unha-3 is scheduled for launch between 12 and 16 April Photograph: David Guttenfelder/AP

A North Korean soldier tries to keep order as journalists gather around the satellite that officials say will be launched with the Unha-3 rocket Photograph: David Guttenfelder/AP

The control centre inside the Sohae Satellite Station in Tongchang-ri, North Korea Photograph: AP

A scientist unveils the Kwangmyongsong-3 application satellite which will be put on to the rocket Photograph: Bobby Yip/Reuters

North Korean officials and foreign journalists leave the launch pad Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

In Tokyo, soldiers set Patriot missiles outside the defence ministry Photograph: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images

A soldier stands guard in front of a Japanese SDF set Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile launcher in Tokyo Photograph: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

North Korean technicians watch live images of Unha-3 in the satellite control room Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

Computer terminals at the North Korean space agency's general launch command centre Photograph: David Guttenfelder/AP