NK extends launch window until Dec. 29

North Korea on Monday extended its schedule for a planned rocket launch by one week to Dec. 29, citing technical difficulties in the first stage of its Unha-3 rocket.

In a statement, the Korean Committee of Space Technology said its scientists and engineers had been making the final preparations for the launch, but “found a technical deficiency in the first-stage control engine module of the rocket carrying the satellite and decided to extend the satellite launch period until Dec. 29,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The North had initially announced the launch of its rocket would occur between Monday and Dec. 22. On Sunday, however, Pyongyang said its experts were examining the timing for unspecified reasons.

Seoul remained on high alert over the possible launch, which would be widely viewed as a test of ballistic missile technology.

“For the time being, the military will maintain its current status until North Korea completely disassembles the rocket from the launch pad,” a senior military official said, asking for anonymity.

The ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command raised its alert level to “Watchcon 2” last week, meaning it is monitoring a “vital threat.” Two U.S. Navy Aegis warships have been deployed in the West Sea to monitor any launch.

Officials here said the rocket had been completely assembled on the launch pad at the northwestern Sohae Satellite Launching Station as of last Wednesday, and reports said Pyongyang was preparing to begin fueling.

Independent analysis by experts, however, suggested that it was taking longer to erect the rocket than was the case in April during Pyongyang’s last attempt. The highly-cited U.S. website “38 North” said work mat have been temporarily halted by snowfall on Dec. 3.

The rocket is covered by a dark canvas in the latest satellite images. Officials say the removal of the canvas could signal a likely launch.

“As there are activities of vehicles and people at the launch site, it seems that inspections are still under way on the three-stage rocket,” Yonhap News Agency quoted a senior government source as saying. But the official added that it was difficult to pinpoint the cause of any technical problem.

Seoul has been busy working with regional players to convince Pyongyang to call off the plan and has ordered diplomats overseas to notify other governments the move would violate U.N. resolutions implemented after the North’s nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

Officials said that the outgoing Lee Myung-bak administration will seek to make the North feel a deeper pinch for its actions, including seeking to freeze any remaining international bank accounts it uses. <The Korea Times/Kim Young-jin>