North Korea to launch rocket April 4

This is like a game of chicken. North Korea testing their ballistic missiles under the guise of a satellite launch and Japan and the US saying they might shoot it down. Who will blink first? Thanks to Dinah Lord

New Kerala

The communist state earlier announced plans to launch a communications satellite between April 4 and 8. The US and South Korea have accused Pyongyang of using the launch as an excuse to test-fire a long-range missile.

The three-stage rocket will be launched from the newly constructed Musudan-ri launch pad on the country's northeast coast, Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported.

On a trajectory aimed straight for Hawaii

The report cited diplomats in Beijing as saying that the launch would go ahead April 4 barring adverse weather conditions or last-minute repairs.

Pyongyang earlier said the first stage of the carrier rocket would fall into the Sea of Japan, and the second stage into the Pacific Ocean.

Japan has warned that it could position interceptor missiles, to shoot down any North Korean missiles threatening its territory.