N. Korea informs global agencies of its rocket launch plan

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details)
SEOUL, March 13 (Yonhap) -- In yet another sign of an imminent rocket launch by
North Korea, the communist nation announced Thursday that it has already informed
related international organizations of its plan to put what it claims to be a
"communication satellite" in orbit.

"The DPRK (North Korea) informed the International Civil Aviation Organization,
the International Maritime Organization and other international organizations of
necessary information for the safe navigation of planes and ships according to
relevant regulations as part of its preparations for launching Kwangmyongsong-2,
an experimental communications satellite, by carrier rocket Unha-2 which was made
public by the Korean Committee of Space Technology recently," the Korean Central
News Agency (KCNA) reported, without revealing a date for the measure.
It added that Pyongyang also joined the international treaty and convention on space.
"The DPRK's accession to the said treaty and convention will contribute to
promoting international confidence and boosting cooperation in the scientific
research into space and the satellite launch for peaceful purposes," the KCNA
said.
Wednesday's announcement follows weeks of reports that North Korea is preparing
for a long-range missile launch from a base in its east coast. Pyongyang partly
confirmed the reports, arguing it is seeking to send a communication satellite
into orbit as part of peaceful space program.
The U.S. intelligence chief said earlier this week that North Korea appears to be
seeking a space rocket launch as it claims.
"The North Koreans announced that they were going to do a space launch, and I
believe that that's what they intend," National Intelligence Director Dennis
Blair told a Congress committee.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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