Tokyo: US satellite data has suggested that North Korea may have already begun to fuel a rocket it intends to launch in protest of international opposition, reported a Japanese newspaper. Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between February 8 to 25.
While it maintains the space programme is purely scientific in naturer, US and its allies, including South Korea have their apprehensions and say the rocket launches are pretty well aimed at developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland. North Korea “will finish preparations for the launch as soon as the next several days”, said an unidentified UD Defence Department official. Satellite images have shown increased movement of people and equipment today around the launch pad and a fuel storehouse at the country's Sohae satellite launch complex in the northwest region. The United States has judged that the fuelling has kicked-off as it has been closely monitoring Pyongyang's movements through military intelligence satellites which can analyse objects as small as 30 centimetres. Given the difficulty in stopping the process once fuelling begins, preparation normally finishes within several days after, said the official.
UN sanctions have prohibited North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, and the possible launch would be a massive violation of the UNSC resolutions, following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test last month. In its formal notification sent to UN agencies, North Korea provided flight coordinates similar to its successful launch of a three-stage Unha-3 rocket in December 2012. The separated first stage was predicted to fall in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of South Korea, followed by a second stage splashdown the Philippine Sea.
Japanese and South Korean airlines will rerout a number of their flights during the launch window, in order to avoid any possible collision.
