(Rocket Launch) S. Korea to proceed with launch despite ex-president's death

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will move forward with the launch of its
first space rocket as scheduled despite the death of former president Kim
Dae-jung, officials said Tuesday.

The rocket, named the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), is scheduled to
blast off from the Naro Space Center 485km south of Seoul late Wednesday
afternoon.
Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for President Lee Myung-bak, said the launch will
proceed as planned after consultation with policymakers and engineers.
"It has been decided that the launch should move forward since it does not affect
the general state of mourning," the official said.
Kim, South Korea's president from 1998 to 2003 and the country's only Nobel Peace
Prize laureate, died earlier in the day, raising speculation that the liftoff may
be delayed.
The KSLV-1, also called the Naro-1, stands 33 meters tall with a diameter of 2.9
meters. Its main first stage liquid-fuel rocket, made in Russia, can generate 170
tons of thrust. The second stage rocket, made in the country, can generate 8 tons
of thrust and is designed to place the satellite into proper orbit.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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