North Korea

North Korea Sets Date for Launching

• SIGN IN TO E-MAIL
• PRINT
• REPRINTS
• SHARE

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Published: March 12, 2009

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has told international aviation and maritime authorities that it will launch a satellite in early April, the North’s official news agency and a news agency in the South reported on Thursday.

North Korea’s neighbors and Western nations believe the launching is actually cover for testing a long-range missile capable of reaching the American mainland. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said such a launching would be “very unhelpful.”

The North’s state-run Korea Central News Agency said the country notified the international organizations to “ensure the safety of flights and sea vessels.”

It did not disclose a date. But South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, quoting unidentified government sources, said the North had told the international organizations that the launching would be between April 4 and 8.

Well done, Hillary. It would be "unhelpful."