(VOVworld)- Japan, South Korea and the US have over the past few days strongly reacted to North Korea’s decision to launch an earth observation satellite- the Kwangmyongsong 3 despite assurance that the satellite launch is for peaceful purposes and only commemorates the 100^th birth anniversary of the late President Kim Il Sung. As the launch time is nearing, the world’s political heat intensifies.

North Korean officials says the Kwangmyongsong 3 will be sent into orbit by an Unha 3 long range rocket this month. The 91-ton satellite will be launched from a pad in the north of North Korea and will be aired south, dropping its first stage rocket into the Yellow Sea about 160 kms southwest of South Korea's Byeonsan peninsula and the second stage into the ocean about 140 kilometres east of Luzon in the Philippines. The Unha 3 rocket is equipped with a self destruct system and thus will not affect other countries. Pyongyang stressed that it was a peaceful satellite aimed at enhancing North Korea’s scientific and technological development and that the launch was planned long ago. The whole launch process promises maximal legitimacy and transparency. North Korea has invited dozens of foreign reporters to the Tongchangri Space Center, where the rocket carrying the satellite into orbit will be launched. This is the first time Pyongyang has invited foreign reporters to approach the space center. The north has also invited space agencies from many countries to observe the launch.

Foreign reporters are invited to North Korea's space center

Despite North Korea’s goodwill in explaining its plan, the US, Japan and South Korea insist that the launch is in fact a long range missile test that violates a resolution of the UN Security Council. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said North Korea’s announcement was highly provocative and called on Pyongyang to abide by the UN resolution forbidding the use of ballistic technology. Clinton says a launch would threaten regional security. The US has decided to suspend a plan to send as humanitarian aid 240,000 tons of food to North Korea under an agreement signed by both countries in February. The US on Monday urged China to press North Korea not to launch the satellite. South Korea says North Korea’s satellite launch is aimed at testing a long range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Japan says that any rocket launch by North Korea, with or without a satellite, using ballistic technology violates the UN resolution.

In recent days, Japan, South Korea and the US have been deploying advanced military weapons in the region, since Pyongyang shows no sign of canceling its launch. Japan has installed rockets in Tokyo and 3 Aegis destroyers in the East Sea to down North Korea’s rocket if it threatens Japan’s territory. The US has mobilized its most advanced mobile radar system from Hawai and naval ship US Aegis has left its base.

In response to increasing pressures, Pyongyang has warned that any attempt to intercept the satellite will be considered an act of war and it will punish any such attempt by launching a war of mass destruction.

North Korea plans to launch the Kwangmyongsong-3 sometime this week and mounting tension undermines recent efforts to seek a peaceful solution on the Korean peninsula.