We investigate the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation in d spatial dimensio
ns with Gaussian spatially long-range correlated noise - characterized by i
ts second moment R(x - x') proportional to \x - x'\(2 rho-d) - by means of
dynamic field theory and the renormalization group. Using a stochastic Cole
-Hopf transformation we derive exact exponents and scaling functions for th
e roughening transition and the smooth phase above the lower critical dimen
sion d(c) = 2((1+rho)). Below the lower critical dimension, there is a line
rho(*)(d) marking the stability boundary between the short-range and long-
range noise fixed points. For rho greater than or equal to rho(*)(d), the g
eneral structure of the renormalization-group equations fixes the values of
the dynamic and roughness exponents exactly, whereas above rho(*)(d), one
has to rely on some perturbational techniques. We discuss the location of t
his stability boundary rho(*)(d) in light of the exact results derived in t
his paper, and from results known in the literature. In particular, we conj
ecture that there might be two qualitatively different strong-coupling phas
es above and below the lower critical dimension, respectively.