<p>North Korea says it has brought forward plans to launch a rocket and the event could now occur as early as tomorrow, Japanese media reported.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The country will launch the satellite-bearing rocket between February 7 and February 14, Jiji Press and NHK reported the Japanese government as saying today.<br /><br />Pyongyang had previously said the launch would take place between February 8-25, around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un.<br /><br />The Japanese government said North Korea had informed the International Maritime Organisation of the new schedule, according to NHK. Immediate confirmation of the reports was not available.<br /><br />The North insists its space programme is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and allies, including South Korea, say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland.<br /><br />UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any launch using ballistic missile technology.The imminent launch would constitute another major violation of UN Security Council resolutions following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test last month.</p>
<p>North Korea says it has brought forward plans to launch a rocket and the event could now occur as early as tomorrow, Japanese media reported.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The country will launch the satellite-bearing rocket between February 7 and February 14, Jiji Press and NHK reported the Japanese government as saying today.<br /><br />Pyongyang had previously said the launch would take place between February 8-25, around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un.<br /><br />The Japanese government said North Korea had informed the International Maritime Organisation of the new schedule, according to NHK. Immediate confirmation of the reports was not available.<br /><br />The North insists its space programme is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and allies, including South Korea, say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland.<br /><br />UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any launch using ballistic missile technology.The imminent launch would constitute another major violation of UN Security Council resolutions following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test last month.</p>