North Korea space official: All prep done for launch

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korean space officials said Tuesday that all assembly and preparations for this week's planned satellite launch have been completed, and denied it is a cover for a missile test.

Space officials told reporters at a news conference in Pyongyang that the launch of the three-stage rocket is on target to take place sometime between April 12-16 as part of centennial birthday commemorations for late President Kim Il Sung, the country's founder.

The Kwangmyongsong-3 communications satellite, equipped with a video camera designed to capture images of North Korea's terrain and send back data about weather conditions, was being mounted on the rocket Tuesday, said Ryu Kum Chol, deputy director of the Space Development Department of the Korean Committee for Space Technology.

"All the assembly and preparations of the satellite launch are done," he said. Read More