DPRK to launch satellite in December

PYONGYANG  -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Saturday that it is planning to launch another satellite in December after a failed attempt in April.

Photo taken on April 8, 2012 shows the Unha-3 rocket for launching Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite installed on the launch pad in Tongchang-ri base, Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK). [Photo/Xinhua]

The second version of Kwangmyongsong-3 will be launched from the Sohae Space Center in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province, by the Unha-3 carrier rocket between Dec 10 and Dec 22, the official KCNA news agency said.

"Scientists and technicians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea analyzed the mistakes that were made during the previous April launch and deepened the work of improving the reliability and precision of the satellite and carrier rocket," the KCNA quoted a spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology as saying.

The DPRK launched a Kwangmyongsong-3 on April 13 to mark the 100th birthday of late DPRK founder Kim Il-sung. The long-range rocket crashed into the sea after traveling a short distance.

The KCNA said Pyongyang will fully comply with relevant international rules during the December launch.

Slide: DPRK satellite launch site

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