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'Radar on' at N Korea rocket site North Korea 'has launched rocket'
(10 minutes later)
A report from South Korea says that radar systems have been turned on at North Korea's rocket launch site, suggesting lift-off could be imminent. North Korea appears to have launched a rocket, reports from Japan and South Korea say.
A tracking system had been activated and covers removed from the top of the rocket, Yonhap news agency said, citing an unidentified official. It came a day after Pyongyang said that its preparations for the launch of a communications satellite were complete.
Pyongyang says it plans to launch a satellite, but its neighbours suspect this is a cover for a missile test. North Korea says it is pursuing peaceful space development, but its neighbours suspect the launch is a cover for a long-range missile test.
The US, Japan and South Korea have urged it repeatedly not to go ahead. The US, Japan and South Korea have urged it repeatedly not to go ahead and warned of consequences if it does.
North Korea has said the launch will happen between 4 and 8 April, during windows from 0200 to 0700 GMT. North Korea had said that the launch would happen between 4-8 April, during windows from 0200 to 0700 GMT.
The BBC's John Sudworth, who is in Seoul, says that the South Korean reports are not final confirmation that the launch will take place. "A short time ago a flying object appeared to have been launched from North Korea," the Japanese government statement said.
On Saturday, the Japanese government announced that the rocket had been launched, only to retract its report a few minutes later. The rocket appeared to have passed over Japan, the government said.
South Korean officials also confirmed that a rocket had been launched.