Satellite Images Show More North Korea Preps for Rocket Launch

The distinction between a rocket used to lift a satellite into space and a long-range ballistic missile is highly technical but of crucial importance to understanding North Korea’s motives and capabilities and in forming a realistic and effective strategy to deal with them.

It said the imagery showed vehicles including one or two buses and a crane and added: “This level of activity compares favorably to that seen prior to the previous launch in 2012”.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is “deeply concerned about North Korea’s notification that it intends to conduct a rocket launch as this will violate numerous UN Security Council resolutions”.

Pyongyang told the International Maritime Organization Tuesday it intends to launch an Earth observation satellite between February 8 and 25, IMO spokeswoman Natasha Brown told CNN.

The satellite also detected movement of people and equipment beneath a roof that is covering the launch pad.

Chinese state media had warned North Korea would pay a “severe price” if it goes ahead with the proposed satellite launch, and Hong Kong TV commentator Qiu Zhenhai said the North was not “taking China’s face into consideration”.

They reaffirmed their refusal to accept a nuclear-armed North Korea, as well as to the “complete and verifiable” denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea’s president on Thursday called for strong United Nations sanctions that will make North Korea realize it can not survive if it does not abandon its weapons programs.

Beijing on Wednesday urged restraint over North Korea’s announcement of its launch plans, and expressed skepticism over the U.S. calls for tough new sanctions.

The global community has been imposing economic sanctions on North Korea since its first nuclear test in 2006.

“The military is ramping up its air defence readiness so it can intercept a missile or any debris that lands in our territory or waters”, ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun told reporters.

About 90% of North Korea’s trade is with China. If that’s the case, Pyongyang isn’t necessarily that much closer to having a reliable, long-range missile capable of dropping a nuclear weapon on the United States any time soon.

North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme.

Han ordered the commanders to respond actively to the launch, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. This means there is considerable debate about whether it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver their bombs to faraway targets.