North Korea Snubs US Warning over Rocket Launch

North Korea is all set to launch its supposed weather satellite which other nations says a ballistic missile test. An official confirmation emerged from the North Korean space authorities saying the rocket is ready to be launched sometime between Thursday and Monday.

"All the assembly and preparations of the satellite launch are done including fuelling of the rocket," says Ryu Kum Chol, deputy director of the Space Development Department of the Korean Committee for Space Technology, reported the Associated Press.

Although the North Korean officials maintain that it is a rocket built to carry a satellite into space, other nations including the US, South Korea have said North is undertaking a nuclear test.

Pyongyang maintains that the rocket will carry a weather satellite into orbit to aid North Korea's economic development, and it is unreasonable to say that it would be a ballistic missile test in disguise.

Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton clearly sends a warning signal on Tuesday that the US would pursue "appropriate action" against North Korea through the Security Council if the country goes ahead with the launch.

"Let me make it absolutely clear. Any launch by North Korea would be a serious, clear violation of their obligations under already existing UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874," the CNN has quoted Clinton as saying.

"Recent history strongly suggests that additional provocations may follow. And it raises questions about its desires to improve ties with its neighbours and the United States," she added.

Earlier, a South Korean intelligence report suggested all activities at the atomic testing site were similar to that of previous detonations. Another unidentified source also confirmed that the excavation was almost complete at the same site where North previously carried out two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, the AP reported.

South Korean intelligence alleged that satellite images had confirmed the north's preparation Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong province. The South Korean Yonhap news agency quoted an unnamed intelligence source as saying North Korea was clandestinely preparing a nuclear test.

Meanwhile, several flights across the region are being rerouted as the tension in the region is mounting.