North Korean confirms rocket launch

EDITORS NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL AND EDITED KRT MATERIAL

North Korea says it is ready to launch its controversial long-range rocket on schedule.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) VICE DIRECTOR OF THE SPACE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE KOREAN CENTRAL SPACE COMMITTEE RYU KUM-CHOL SAYING:

"As you have already seen on the 8th of April during your visit to the launch site, the assembly and preparation for the launch is being done. And we've already announced that the launch will happen between the 12th to 16th of April, and we've already informed international organisations. And we will follow the time schedule."

He also added that they will complete the assembly of the rocket by the end of Tuesday.

Pyongyang said the rocket launch will merely put a weather satellite into orbit.

But the launch will breach U.N. sanctions imposed to prevent North Korea from developing a missile that could carry a nuclear warhead.

China repeated its calls for calm and restraint on the Korean peninsula.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON LIU WEIMIN SAYING:

"Under the current situation, we hope all sides can move ahead while seeing the big picture, remain calm and be restraint, and practically adhere to the related international laws, in order to prevent the escalation of tensions on the Peninsula."

South Korea's defence ministry earlier said they had agreed to cooperate with the United States against North Korea's rocket launch.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, KIM MIN-SEOK, SAYING:

"They agreed to make joint efforts for defending the peninsula. Also the two ministers agreed that North Korea's long-range missile launch is a major provocation and is violating the UN Security Council's resolution."

Japan's foreign minister, heading to Washington for a meeting with the Group of Eight, said he will be seeking the help of the international community in pressuring Pyongyang to stop the launch.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER KOICHIRO GEMBA SAYING:

"I will be working on getting the cooperation of various nations at the G8 to show a strong will in calling on North Korea to restrain itself."

North Korea says that it is its sovereign right to launch the rocket, which it claims is for peaceful purposes.

The launch is due to coincide with the 100th anniversary celebrations of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung.

South Korea, which remains technically at war with the North, warned that the impoverished country of 23 million people would deepen its isolation if it went ahead.

Sophia Soo, Reuters.