Ignoring warnings from the United States and other nations around the world, North Korea was pushing ahead on Thursday with plans to launch what it claims is a missile carrying a satellite into orbit.Pyongyang is also eschewing requests from China - one of its few allies - to exercise restraint over the launch, which most governments believe is the test-firing of a ballistic missile.
North Korea announced in March that it would launch a rocket carrying a Bright Star 3 Earth-observation satellite between April 12 and 16 as part of its celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the founder of the nation.
The launch is also tied to the regime's promise to its people that the year 2012 would see North Korea develop into "a strong and prosperous" nation.
Analysts say the expensive celebrations are in part designed to be a distraction from the hunger and repression of every-day life in the world's most isolated state, as well as an effort to boost the standing of the inexperienced Kim Jung-un.
Japan has set up a Crisis Management Centre at the Prime Minister's Office and members of the cabinet were instructed to be at their offices at 7 am this morning. Read More
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