The United States, South Korea and Japan have condemned North Korea's plans to launch a rocket carrying a satellite, a further major breach of UN resolutions following a nuclear test in January.
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The International Maritime Organization said it had received a shipping warning from North Korea of its intention to launch an earth observation satellite between 8 and 25 February, reports Guardian.
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The Japanese Prime Minister,Shinzo Abe, told parliament that 'If North Korea goes ahead and launches the rocket, it would clearly violate UN security council resolutions and pose a serious provocation.
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UN resolutions forbid North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, and t imposed sanctions following the country's previous rocket launch in December 2012.
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The White House said any satellite launch by North Korea would be viewed by the international community as another destabilising provocation.