N. Korea deploys advanced fighter jets ahead of rocket launch: official

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has deployed a fleet of MiG-23 fighter
jets along the east coast where it is gearing up to launch a rocket to send what
it claims is a "satellite" into orbit, a senior Air Force official said Thursday.
The latest relocation of the advanced fighter jets comes as the communist North
steps up its warnings against any foreign attempt to intercept its rocket.
South Korea, Japan and the U.S. maintain the launch will likely be a disguised
test of a ballistic missile capable of hitting Alaska and have warned it will
trigger U.N. sanctions.
The three countries have deployed their Aegis-guided destroyers in the East Sea
while the North's military said it will strike back at "any minor attempt" to
interfere with the launch.
"We are closely monitoring the movement of the jets," the official said by phone,
speaking on condition of anonymity and declining to share further information
because he feared it would expose the South Korean monitoring capabilities.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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