S. Korea rocket launch delayed by gas leak

Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), or Naro, is set up on its launch pad at Naro Space Centrer in Goheung, about 485 km (301 miles) south of Seoul, Oct 24, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - South Korea postponed its rocket launch Friday due to a malfunction detected in the rocket's first stage hours before its planned liftoff.

Deputy Science Minister Cho Yul-rae told a briefing that the launch of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), also known as Naro-1, had been suspended upon the finding of a leak in a connection between the rocket's first stage and the launch pad.

He added that a new launch attempt will be made at least three days after as the problem requires the rocket to be removed from the launch pad and returned to the assembly facility for a reexamination.  

The two-stage rocket was scheduled to blast off on Friday afternoon from a space center on the country's southern coast.  

Russia designed and manufactured the rocket's first stage, while South Korea built its solid-fueled second stage.  

It marks South Korea's third attempt to put a satellite fired from its own territory into orbit after two previous failed attempts in 2009 and 2010.