TOKYO — International pressure is on North Korea to stop a planned rocket launch, which some governments allege is just a cover for another ballistic missile test.
The Japan Times reports that Pyongyang on Tuesday notified United Nations agencies of its plan to launch an earth observation satellite sometime between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25.
The launch is suspected to be a ballistic missile test for a variant of the Taepodong-2, which can reportedly fly more than 10,000 kilometers.
The North's plan involves parts of the rocket falling in three places: west of the Korean Peninsula; in the East China Sea; and east of the Philippines, in the Pacific.
South Korea is monitoring the launch preparations using Aegis-equipped destroyers and other surveillance assets, reports Japan Today.
With the rocket set to fly over Okinawa's Ishigaki and Miyako islands, Japan has set up Patriot PAC-3 air defense missiles at bases in four prefectures. An Aegis destroyer with SM-3 missile systems has also been deployed in the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan.
Both countries vowed to fire missiles to intercept the rocket or any parts of it that enter their airspace.
North Korea successfully launched its first long-range rocket in 2012. Last month, it claimed to have detonated a hydrogen bomb.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
Visit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.net
Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f
Get top stories delivered to your inbox everyday: http://bit.ly/tomo-newsletter
Stay connected with us here:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TomoNewsUS
Twitter @tomonewsus http://www.twitter.com/TomoNewsUS
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+TomoNewsUS/
Instagram @tomonewsus http://instagram.com/tomonewsus