7 Feb 2016

North Korea may launch rocket any day

10:01 am on 7 February 2016

Two of North Korea's neighbours say the secretive communist state has brought forward a time frame for the launch of a rocket that Pyongyang says will carry an earth observation satellite.

North Korea had earlier told the International Maritime Organisation it would launch the rocket some time by February 25.

The announcement triggered international opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.

Japan and South Korea now say the North is intending to launch the satellite between now and next Sunday.