Two
guided missile destroyers, the USS Benfold and the USS Fitzgerald, have
been sent to the area ahead of the launch, a Navy official said.
Japan's government, meanwhile, has formally issued an order to its military
to shoot down any rocket debris that infringes on its territory.
North Korea plans to launch
its rocket between 10 and 22 December, saying it will put a satellite
into space.
The US and other nations
say the launch constitutes a test of long-range missile technology
banned under UN resolutions.
North Korea conducted
a similar launch in April 2012, but the rocket flew only for a short
time before crashing into waters off the Korean peninsula. The regime’s
priority is ensuring the success of the launch after a similar attempt
exploded in April and not any possible nuclear weapons test, the official
said, speaking to reporters in Seoul on condition of anonymity. Locklear
yesterday made a similar point.
This launch window includes
two key dates - 17 December marks the first anniversary of the death
of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and 19 December is when South Korea's
presidential election takes place.
