TOKYO, December 4 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea has completed the installation of the second stage of a carrier rocket and is assembling its third and last stage, South Korean media reported on Tuesday.
According to KBS TV, the North is likely to start fueling the rocket after installing the third stage. KBS said that it has sent an engineer to China to observe the launch progress remotely.
Pyongyang has announced plans to launch the rocket between December 10 and 22.
The launch will be North Korea’s second attempt this year. A previous launch in April failed when the rocket crashed into the Yellow Sea minutes after liftoff.
North Korea maintains it wants to put satellites into orbit for peaceful purposes, while the international community suspects the launches could be a cover for development of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
North Korea has previously tested nuclear weapons underground.
