The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced Saturday that it will "soon" launch communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said.
"Preparations for launching 'Kwangmyongsong-2,' an experimental communications satellite, by carrier rocket 'Unha-2' have been completed at the satellite launching ground in the east coastal area of the DPRK," Yonhap quoted the Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA) was reporting,
The KCNA added that launch preparations have been "completed at the satellite launching ground in the east coastal area and that there would be no change in the technological indexes necessary for the safe navigation of airliners and ships" it had provided to the U.N, according to Yonhap.
Yonhap also reported that the DPRK appears to have set up recording equipment around the launch pad, quoting an expert as saying that cameras are usually positioned to record a takeoff before a rocket launch.
The South Korean military said Friday that it is on full alert and is closely monitoring the DPRK's Musudan-ri missile base and areas near the Northern Limited Line (NLL) and the Military Demarcation Line (DML).
Three Warships, including South Korea's 7,600-ton vessel, King Sejong the Great Destroyer, along with the USS Chaffee (DDG-90) and the USS John McCain (DDG-56) of the United States, are now conducting monitoring activities in the East Sea, said the military.
The Unification Ministry of South Korea on Friday urged South Korean civilians to refrain from visiting the DPRK, but said it is not considering measures such as withdrawing South Korean workers in the joint Gaesong Industrial Complex.
(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2009)
