Japan to postpone talks with DPRK

TOKYO - Japan will postpone talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the latter announced a satellite launch plan on Saturday, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported.

The decision was made by Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda after a meeting with Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto and Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura.

Noda said that he has informed the DPRK of his decision and added that it will be "quite regrettable" if the DPRK carries out the launch.

Morimoto also issued a destroy order to the Self-Defense Forces, requiring them to be prepared for the satellite launch, according to Kyodo.

Japan and the DPRK planed to hold a new round of high-level talks on Wednesday and Thursday in Beijing.

After the DPRK's announcement, Noda had ordered the country's ministries to take every possible measure to secure public security, adding he will seek cooperation with the United States, South Korea, Russia and China to stop DPRK's launch plan.  

The DPRK announced Saturday that it will launch an earth observation satellite between December 10 and December 22 from the Sohae Space Center in the country's North Phyongan Province.

The DPRK attempted a satellite launch in April to mark the 100th birthday of late DPRK founder Kim Il Sung. But the rocket failed to send the satellite into orbit and crashed into sea.