Rocket to be 'launched on April 4-8'

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has given global agencies notice of its plans to launch a satellite from April 4-8, an official said yesterday in a move Washington has called "provocative" and views as a disguised long-range missile test.

Pyongyang gave notice it expects the first stage of the rocket to splash down in the East Sea, better known as the Sea of Japan, and the second stage to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, Yonhap news agency quoted sources familiar with the notice as saying.

The United States has said it could pursue a range of options against the DPRK if it launches the missile, including squeezing it harder with UN sanctions imposed after separate missile and nuclear tests in 2006.