The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has notified international agencies of its planned satellite launch, the country's official KCNA news agency reported Thursday.
The report did not give a specific date for the launch, but South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an intelligence source as saying that the DPRK is likely to fire a rocket during April 4-8.
The KCNA said the DPRK has informed the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization and other international agencies of "necessary information for the safe navigation of planes and ships" while preparing to launch a satellite.
The DPRK is preparing for launching Kwangmyongsong-2, an experimental communications satellite, by carrier rocket Unha-2, according to the KCNA.
The KCNA said the DPRK recently acceded to the international treaty and convention on space.
The DPRK acceded to the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies" and the "Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space," it said.
The country's accession to the 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, it added.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Yonhap quoted an intelligence source as saying that "North Korea informed the International Maritime Organization of its plan to fire the Kwangmyongson-2 between April4-8."
The DPRK declared on Feb. 24 that it was going to launch a communications satellite as part of a peaceful space program. The satellite will be fired by the "Galaxy 2" space launch vehicle in the East Sea Space Launching Base located in Hwadae County, the North Hamgyong province.
The DPRK said it is entitled to develop its own space program and other countries like the United States have no rights to interfere.
U.S. and South Korean media suspected the DPRK was going to test-fire a ballistic missile "Taepodong-2," with a maximum estimated range of 6,700 km.
South Korea, Japan and the United States have warned Pyongyang not to fire a missile. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the DPRK to stop its "provocative actions," saying a missile test would "be very unhelpful."
The DPRK said it put an experimental satellite "Kwangmyongsong-1" into orbit in August 1998. But the United States said it believed that was only a "Taepodong-1" missile test-launch.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)