The U.S. State Department says South Korea has developed its space launch vehicle program in a responsible manner.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a daily news briefing Tuesday that Washington believes South Korea’s launch of its first space rocket was conducted in a manner consistent with its international obligations and commitments.

Kelly said South Korea is an active member of many international nonproliferation agreements and regimes. He cited that in January 2001, Seoul adopted and began implementing new guidelines on the possession and development of missile and rocket systems and announced that it will develop civilian rockets only for peaceful purposes and in a transparent manner.