“In the past, such activity has occurred 1-2 weeks prior to a launch event and would be consistent with North Korea’s announced launch window of February 8 through 24”, it added.
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Experts earlier expected that the North would likely launch the rocket around February 16, the birthday of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who died due to heart failure in late 2011.
“North Korea could agree to delay the launch of its rocket in order to ask China to resist the US push for tougher United Nations sanctions, but Wu’s visit is unlikely to achieve fundamental results, such as persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapon development”, Jin said, citing North Korea’s previous statements that it would continue nuclear tests.
UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, and the rocket launch would amount to another major violation of UN Security Council resolutions following January’s nuclear test.
Xi stressed that China, under any circumstances, is firmly committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, is staunchly committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula, and insists on a solution through dialogue and consultation, which meets the common interests of the countries in Northeast Asia including China and South Korea.
The North Korea-focused website, 38 North, said in an analysis the evidence from satellite imagery taken on Wednesday and Thursday doesn’t mean the North has starting filling a rocket with fuel, but is probably taking a preparatory step.
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also said that airlines would re-route 41 flights between February 8 and 25.
The distinction between a rocket used to lift a satellite into space and a long-range ballistic missile is highly technical but of crucial importance to understanding North Korea’s motives and capabilities and in forming a realistic and effective strategy to deal with them.
North Korea claims it has the sovereign right to establish a space exploration program, according to Voice of America.
Japan and South Korea have vowed to shoot down any missile in their respective airspaces that is launched from North Korea.
North Korea may launch a rocket that it says will carry an earth observation satellite as soon as Sunday, after bringing forward and shortening the time frame for the launch, the Japanese and South Korean governments said on Saturday.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Wang agreed last week on the need for a significant new UN Security Council resolution against the North, but there were few signs of progress on agreeing on the details.
South Korea, which is also particularly vulnerable to possible North Korean aggression,”is reportedly mobilizing two Aegis-equipped destroyers”.
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While infuriated by North Korea’s refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China’s overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.
