US, allies to track N Korean rocket; China cautions Pyongyang

North Korea has brought forward a time frame for the launch of a rocket that it says will carry an earth observation satellite, to begin on Sunday, the Japanese and South Korean governments said on Saturday.

The announcement comes just days after the reclusive country’s initial launch plans came to light, which drew condemnation from South Korea and Japan.

Pyongyang had previously said the launch would take place between February 8-25, around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un.

The sea areas where it is believed the long-range ballistic missile could fall are far from the main Japanese islands, but the government has established a two-stage defensive strategy involving Aegis-equipped destroyers and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air guided missile units. It is also crucial to understand the limitations of what space rocket launches contribute to the North’s ability to develop military-use missiles.

That doesn’t mean North Korea has starting filling a rocket with fuel, but it’s probably a preparatory step.

Japan and South Korea are also concerned that the rocket could be fitted with nuclear warheads that can strike them at any time.

During a phone call on Friday, Obama and Xi said that North Korea’s planned ballistic missile test would be a “provocative and destabilizing action”, the White House said in a statement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing sent its special envoy for the nuclear issue, Wu Dawei, to North Korea in what he described as “a serious situation”.

North Korea previously launched a satellite in 2012 and claimed the right to develop space technology, although western and Asian observers claim it is an attempt to disguise the development of a long-range ballistic system.

Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced Thursday changes in seven flight paths between Japan and Southeast Asian capitals during the announced launch window.

“North Koreans clearly know the United Nations sanctions are coming in response to their nuclear test [in January]”.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said North Korea’s plan is a “deeply troubling development” and that it will “further aggravate the profound concerns that the global community already has in the wake of the recent nuclear test”.

“Of course, an important point is to express China’s clear position to North Korea”.