The United States on Friday slammed as "highly provocative" North Korea's plan to launch a long-range rocket next month to put a satellite into orbit, in violation of its international obligations.
"Such a missile launch would pose a threat to regional security and would also be inconsistent with North Korea's recent undertaking to refrain from long-range missile launches," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
North Korea on Friday announced plans to launch an "earth observation" satellite using a carrier rocket between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il-Sung, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
Previous satellite launches by the reclusive North Korean regime have been widely viewed as ballistic missile test launches in disguise.
The last time Pyongyang carried out what it described as a satellite launch, in April 2009, the United Nations Security Council condemned the action, saying it breached a resolution forbidding North Korea from conducting "missile-related activities."
The Security Council demanded that North Korea not conduct further launches.
The satellite, named Kwangmyongsong-3, will be "blasted off southward" from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in the western province of North Phyongan, the KCNA report said.
"A safe flight orbit has been chosen so that carrier rocket debris to be generated during the flight would not have any impact on neighboring countries," it said.
The centenary of Kim Il Sung's birth is a huge event in the North Korean calendar and takes place after the death of his son, Kim Jong Il, in December. Kim Jong Il was succeeded as the "supreme leader" of the secretive state by his youngest son, Kim Jong Un.
Pyongyang's announcement could also threaten a deal struck last month with the United States in which Pyongyang agreed to halt nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and enrichment activities in exchange for food aid.
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