North Korea Prepares 'Satellite' Launch

Neighbors believe country is readying test of long-range missile

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 24, 2009 4:18 AM CST

Copied

North Korea Prepares 'Satellite' Launch — South Korean soldiers watch models of a mock North Korean Scud-B missile and other missiles at Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

North Korea’s announcement today that it is preparing to launch an "experimental communications satellite" on one of its rockets has raised fears that a long-range missile test is imminent, CNN reports. US and South Korean officials, citing intelligence reports, believe that the country is preparing to launch a missile with an intended range of 4,200 miles and are closely monitoring developments.

Amid increasing tensions between North and South Korea last week, Hillary Clinton warned Pyongyang against rocket launches or other "provocative" acts. North Korea—which recently said it was ready for "all-out confrontation" with the South—denounced suggestions it was preparing to test a missile as a "vicious trick” aimed at thwarting the country's space ambitions.
(More North Korea stories.)

Report an error