This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7982835.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| N Korea 'ready for rocket launch' | N Korea 'ready for rocket launch' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Preparations in North Korea for a satellite launch are complete and lift-off will take place "soon", state media has reported. | Preparations in North Korea for a satellite launch are complete and lift-off will take place "soon", state media has reported. |
| A carrier rocket was ready to lift an experimental communications satellite from a base on the country's east coast, state news agency KCNA said. | |
| Pyongyang's neighbours suspect the launch is a cover for a missile test and have urged it not to go ahead. | Pyongyang's neighbours suspect the launch is a cover for a missile test and have urged it not to go ahead. |
| Correspondents say it remains unclear when exactly the launch will be. | Correspondents say it remains unclear when exactly the launch will be. |
| North Korea has told international organisations it will carry out the launch between 4 and 8 April, during the hours of 1100 to 1600 (0200 to 0700 GMT). name="here"> class="bodl" href="#there"> See satellite images of North Korea's launch pad | |
| Observers say North Korea is very likely to stick to this commitment, firing the rocket at the first sign of good weather conditions during the given times. | |
| Monitoring equipment had been set up at the launch pad, indicating the rocket could be fired within hours, South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted officials as saying. | |
| 'Stern response' | |
| Washington, Seoul and Tokyo have all criticised the launch plan. | Washington, Seoul and Tokyo have all criticised the launch plan. |
| Although North Korea says it is pursuing peaceful space development, its neighbours believe it could be planning to test a new long-range missile. | |
| They suspect the launch is a cover for a test of the Taepodong-2 ballistic missile, which could put parts of the US within reach of the communist state. | |
| Earlier this week, US President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak said a "stern, united response" would follow any rocket launch by North Korea. | |
| Japan, meanwhile, has said it will shoot down the rocket if it misfires and endangers Japanese territory. | |
| North Korea's military has threatened immediate retaliation if "even the slightest effort" is made to intercept its rocket. | |
| Click here to return |