NKorea rocket launch: Peaceful communications satellite

SOUTH KOREA: South Korea Thursday joined its US ally in calling for a United Nations response to North Korea's rocket launch plan, as a US official said the missile has been placed on a launch pad.

The state reaffirmed it would launch a peaceful communications satellite and blasted "confrontational maniacs" in Seoul for their opposition.

The United States, South Korea and Japan insist that Pyongyang wants a pretext to test its longest-range missile, the Taepodong-2, which could theoretically reach Alaska.

But the North shows no signs of backing down from its launch, scheduled between April 4-8. A US counter-proliferation official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP in Washington that a missile - believed to be a Taepodong-2 - has been moved to a launch pad.

Two stages were visible in satellite photos but the top was covered with a shroud supported by a crane, NBC television reported, citing US officials. "We intend to raise this violation of the UN Security Council resolution, if it goes forward, in the UN," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday.

The US and its allies say a satellite launch uses the same technology as a missile test and would breach Resolution 1718 passed in 2006, which orders the North to halt nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches.

A South Korean foreign ministry task force met Thursday to discuss counter-measures, said spokesman Moon Tae-Young.

"The government, in consultation with the UN Security Council members, plans to take this issue to the Security Council," he said. Seoul, Thursday, AFP