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| North Korea extends launch period for controversial long-range rocket | North Korea extends launch period for controversial long-range rocket |
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| North Korea has extended the launch period for a controversial long-range rocket by another week until 29 December, citing technical problems. | North Korea has extended the launch period for a controversial long-range rocket by another week until 29 December, citing technical problems. |
| An unidentified spokesman for the North's Korean Committee of Space Technology told state media that scientists found a "technical deficiency in the first-stage control engine module of the rocket". The statement didn't elaborate but said technicians were "pushing forward" with final preparations for the launch. | An unidentified spokesman for the North's Korean Committee of Space Technology told state media that scientists found a "technical deficiency in the first-stage control engine module of the rocket". The statement didn't elaborate but said technicians were "pushing forward" with final preparations for the launch. |
| North Korea is making its second attempt of the year to launch a rocket that the UN, Washington, Seoul and others call a cover meant to test technology for missiles that could be used to strike the United States. They have warned North Korea to cancel the launch or face a new wave of sanctions. | North Korea is making its second attempt of the year to launch a rocket that the UN, Washington, Seoul and others call a cover meant to test technology for missiles that could be used to strike the United States. They have warned North Korea to cancel the launch or face a new wave of sanctions. |
| The North Koreans call the launch a peaceful bid to advance their space programme, and a last wish of late leader Kim Jong Il, who died a year ago, on 17 December. North Korea is also celebrating the centennial this year of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, current leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather. An April launch broke apart seconds after lift-off. | The North Koreans call the launch a peaceful bid to advance their space programme, and a last wish of late leader Kim Jong Il, who died a year ago, on 17 December. North Korea is also celebrating the centennial this year of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, current leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather. An April launch broke apart seconds after lift-off. |
| The announcement of the planned rocket launch has caused concern because of the timing: South Korea and Japan hold elections this month, and China has just formed a new leadership. | The announcement of the planned rocket launch has caused concern because of the timing: South Korea and Japan hold elections this month, and China has just formed a new leadership. |
| The North had originally set up a 13-day launch window, starting on Monday, but it announced on Sunday that it may delay the lift-off because of unspecified reasons. | The North had originally set up a 13-day launch window, starting on Monday, but it announced on Sunday that it may delay the lift-off because of unspecified reasons. |
| Experts in Seoul and Tokyo had speculated that technical glitches may have forced scientists to postpone the launch of the finicky three-stage rocket, its fifth attempt since 1998. | Experts in Seoul and Tokyo had speculated that technical glitches may have forced scientists to postpone the launch of the finicky three-stage rocket, its fifth attempt since 1998. |
| Temperatures in the border city of Sinuiju, near the launch site, dropped to -13C (8.6F) on Monday morning, and the Korean peninsula has been seized by early winter storms and unusually cold weather, the Korea meteorological administration in Seoul said. | Temperatures in the border city of Sinuiju, near the launch site, dropped to -13C (8.6F) on Monday morning, and the Korean peninsula has been seized by early winter storms and unusually cold weather, the Korea meteorological administration in Seoul said. |
| Engineers can launch a rocket in snow, but lightning, strong wind and freezing temperatures have the potential to stall lift-off, said Lee Chang-jin, an aerospace professor at Seoul's Konkuk University. | Engineers can launch a rocket in snow, but lightning, strong wind and freezing temperatures have the potential to stall lift-off, said Lee Chang-jin, an aerospace professor at Seoul's Konkuk University. |
| Snow covered the North's launch site last week, according to commercial satellite imagery taken by GeoEye on 4 December and shared with the Associated Press by the 38 North and North Korea Tech websites. The road from the main assembly building to the launch pad showed no fresh tracks, indicating that the snowfall may have stalled the preparations. | Snow covered the North's launch site last week, according to commercial satellite imagery taken by GeoEye on 4 December and shared with the Associated Press by the 38 North and North Korea Tech websites. The road from the main assembly building to the launch pad showed no fresh tracks, indicating that the snowfall may have stalled the preparations. |
| Japanese prime minister Yoshihiko Noda said yesterday that his government would maintain vigilance. Tokyo has mobilised its military to intercept any debris from the rocket. | Japanese prime minister Yoshihiko Noda said yesterday that his government would maintain vigilance. Tokyo has mobilised its military to intercept any debris from the rocket. |
| "At this moment, we are keeping our guard up," defence minister Satoshi Morimoto told reporters. | "At this moment, we are keeping our guard up," defence minister Satoshi Morimoto told reporters. |
| At least one South Korean destroyer has been deployed in the Yellow Sea to monitor the rocket launch, according to South Korean officials. The US has also moved extra ships with ballistic missile defence capabilities toward the region, officials said. The US, Japan and South Korea say they'll seek UN security council action if the launch goes ahead in defiance of existing resolutions. The council condemned April's launch and ordered seizure of assets of three North Korean state companies linked to financing, exporting and procuring weapons and missile technology. | At least one South Korean destroyer has been deployed in the Yellow Sea to monitor the rocket launch, according to South Korean officials. The US has also moved extra ships with ballistic missile defence capabilities toward the region, officials said. The US, Japan and South Korea say they'll seek UN security council action if the launch goes ahead in defiance of existing resolutions. The council condemned April's launch and ordered seizure of assets of three North Korean state companies linked to financing, exporting and procuring weapons and missile technology. |
| In addition to four failed launches, North Korea has unveiled missiles designed to target US soil and has tested two atomic devices in recent years. It has not yet proven to have mastered the technology for mounting a nuclear warhead to a long-range missile, however. | In addition to four failed launches, North Korea has unveiled missiles designed to target US soil and has tested two atomic devices in recent years. It has not yet proven to have mastered the technology for mounting a nuclear warhead to a long-range missile, however. |
| A successful launch would mean North Korea could develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland within two to three years, said Chong Chol-Ho, a weapons of mass destruction expert at the private Sejong Institute near Seoul. | A successful launch would mean North Korea could develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland within two to three years, said Chong Chol-Ho, a weapons of mass destruction expert at the private Sejong Institute near Seoul. |
| Six-nation negotiations to offer North Korea much-needed aid in exchange for nuclear disarmament have stalled since early 2009. | Six-nation negotiations to offer North Korea much-needed aid in exchange for nuclear disarmament have stalled since early 2009. |
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