NK rocket launch imminent, radars turned on: source

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea activated its radars and cleared the
launch site Sunday as it appears set to fire a rocket that it says will carry a
satellite into orbit, South Korean officials said.
"Once the radars are turned on, we can expect a launch very soon," an official
told Yonhap News Agency. Radars are switched on just before a launch to monitor a
rocket in flight, the official added.
Another official said the Ministry of National Defense expected the launch "soon"
and summoned an emergency conference, adding the launch site appears "clean,
while signals are being detected."
South Korea, the U.S. and Japan believe the rocket is a disguised ballistic
missile theoretically capable of hitting Alaska and Hawaii.
Fairly decent weather and wind conditions were expected along the east coast
where the multi-stage rocket is set at a launch pad in the Musudan-ri site,
according to a North Korean state media report.
North Korea notified international agencies it would send its communications
satellite between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m from Saturday to Wednesday.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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