SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has moved up the window of its planned long-range rocket launch to Feb. 7-14, South Korea's Defense Ministry said Saturday. The launch, which the North said is an effort to send a satellite into orbit, would be in defiance of repeated warnings by outside governments that suspect it is a banned test of ballistic missile technology.
North Korea did not inform international organizations of any other changes in its plan, and the rocket's expected flight path remains the same, said South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun, adding that the South believes the launch could come as soon as Sunday.
The North informed the International Maritime Organization and other related agencies Tuesday that it would attempt a satellite launch between Feb. 8 and 25. No reason was given Saturday for the change of dates.
North Korea's launch declaration came just weeks after it conducted its fourth nuclear test. Outside experts and officials said that each nuclear test and long-range missile launch brings the North closer to creating a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on an intercontinental missile capable of reaching targets as far as the U.S. West Coast.
South Korea believes that the North has completed all launch preparations, including strapping the rocket onto a launch tower and injecting fuel.
A possible explanation for the date change was that Sunday's weather conditions were forecast to be favorable for a launch, he said.
Read Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.