S. Korea to launch rocket as scheduled: presidential office

The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), South Korea's first space rocket, is wheeled to its launch pad from the assembly complex at the Naro Space Centre in Goheung, about 485 km (301 miles) south of Seoul, August 17, 2009. [Agencies]

SEOUL: South Korea's presidential office said Tuesday that the launch of its first space rocket will be conducted as scheduled amid the mourning mood over late President Kim Dae-jung.

Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for the presidential office, said in an official press briefing, "as for now, it has been decided to follow the prearranged schedule as it is a national event."

"As it was not like a festive event which would interfere with the mourning mood, the launch would be what the late president would want," the spokesman said.

The blastoff of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) was originally scheduled on July 30, but later had to be postponed twice due to technical issues.

Earlier in the day, another delay of the KSLV-1 launch was expected among local media due to the death of the ex-president.