North Korea readies rocket for launch

Space officials tell delegation of foreign journalists that planned launch is for scientific research.

North Korea's long-range rocket, scheduled to put what it says is a satellite into orbit next week, has been installed on its launch platform, the country’s space officials have said. Engineers said on Sunday that the satellite will orbit the earth and send back data for weather forecasts and crop surveys. Officials said they have moved all three stages of the rocket into position, vowing to push ahead with their plan in defiance of international warnings. The US, Japan, Britain and other nations have urged the isolated nation to cancel the launch, warning that firing the long-range rocket would violate UN resolutions and North Korea's promise to refrain from engaging in nuclear and missile activity. South Korea said its army is preparing for any threats.

Every negotiated agreement reached between North Korea and various interested parties has ended in failure. From the Agreed Framework which dealt with North Korea's first nuclear program to the Six Party Talks meant to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program to the recently agreed upon food aid program with the United States the North as sought out a means to circumvent each one. Thus increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula due to the North's continued provocations.