Reuters: World News: North Korea gives details of "weather" satellite launch

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North Korea gives details of "weather" satellite launch Mar 27th 2012, 01:53 SEOUL | Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:53pm EDT SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea gave details for the first time of a "weather satellite" it plans to send into orbit next month, a launch the West sees as a disguised ballistic missile test which has prompted criticism from the reclusive state's only major ally, China. The North's KCNA news agency described it as an "advanced geostationary meteorological satellite data receiver" as world leaders gathered in the South Korean capital, Seoul, for a nuclear security summit. "Kwangmyongsong-3 (Bright, Shining Star), a working satellite to be launched in April, will be greatly helpful to the study of weather forecast needed for agriculture and other economic fields," KCNA said late on Monday. "Scientific research for accurate weather forecast is being intensified in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)." Obama on Monday called on North Korea to curb its nuclear ambitions or face further international isolation. He said the destitute North could be hit with tighter sanctions if it goes ahead with the rocket launch, but experts doubt China will back another U.N. Security Council resolution against North Korea. The North had said earlier merely that the rocket would send a working satellite into space, but South Korea and the United States say it is a ballistic missile test. Even though two previous launches of the long-range missile have failed, Washington says the North's missile program is progressing quickly and that the American mainland could come under threat within five years. (Reporting by Nick Macfie; Editing Jeremy Laurence) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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