N. Korea rocket launch plan "provocative", U.S. says

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States on Friday denounced as "highly provocative" North Korea's plan to next month launch a long-range rocket to put a satellite into orbit, in defiance of a UN ban, AFP reported.

"Such a missile launch would pose a threat to regional security and would also be inconsistent with North Korea's recent undertaking to refrain from long-range missile launches," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland added in a statement.

North Korean's announcement came just 16 days after its new leaders agreed to suspend long-range missile tests as part of a deal under which it would receive 240,000 tonnes of US food aid.

Blast-off will be between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il-Sung, the communist state's official news agency and state television said.

Nuland slammed the move.

"North Korea's announcement that it plans to conduct a missile launch in direct violation of its international obligations is highly provocative," she said.

"UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874 clearly and unequivocally prohibit North Korea from conducting launches that use ballistic missile technology.

"We call on North Korea to adhere to its international obligations, including all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. We are consulting closely with our international partners on next steps."