North Korea to launch rocket within days, say officials

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/01/north-korea-rocket-launch


North Korean soldiers guard the Unha-3 rocket, which failed to launch in April. A second attempt will take place in days, officials say. Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

North Korea is to launch a long-range rocket later this month in a move likely to heighten tensions with Washington, Tokyo and Seoul, ahead of the South Korean presidential election.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Saturday that a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite would be launched from its north-west coastal space centre between 10 and 22 December.

The launch will take place around the time of South Korea's presidential elections on 19 December.

It will be the country's second attempt to launch a rocket since Kim Jong-un came to power nearly a year ago, following his father Kim Jong-il's death. A rocket launch in April was aborted but drew condemnation from Washington and Seoul.

[dlcgopdinosamesame]

1. What no Red Rocket Jokes yet????