The rocket carrying the satellite lifted off from a base in the south of the country at 1:41 pm (0441 GMT), said a spokeswoman for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

It is the last of four spy satellites that Japan decided to put into orbit in 1998 after it was shocked by North Korea firing a missile over its main island.

The fourth satellite was put into orbit with no problems, and will give Japan the ability to spy anywhere on Earth at least once a day.

The rocket also carried an experimental optical satellite to carry out tests for future espionage operations.

"The rocket travelled normally. We confirmed that the information satellites were separated," the agency said in a statement.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed the successful launch.

"I am happy to hear that the satellite was successfully put into orbit," he said in a statement.

"I hope our nation's space development will continue to see successes in the future."

Japan sees itself as the top target of North Korea, which tested an atom bomb last year but has recently signed an agreement to shut down key nuclear facilities.

Tokyo also expressed concern when China, North Korea's main ally, shot down one of its own satellites last month, demonstrating its ability to destroy those operated by other nations.

Japan has been expanding its space operations and has set a goal of sending an astronaut to the moon by 2020.

But it suffered an embarrassing failure in November 2003 when it had to destroy a rocket carrying a spy satellite 10 minutes after lift-off because a rocket booster did not separate.

The incident led Japan to suspend launches for more than a year.

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