North Korean soldiers stand guard in front of a Unha-3 rocket at the Tangachai -ri space center ahead of a failed launch in April 2012. (AFP/File - Pedro Ugarte)

Kyodo news agency on Sunday quoted the official Korean Central News Agency as saying that Pyongyang is considering postponing a planned long-range rocket launch originally set for between December 10 and 22, citing unspecified problems during preparations. The Korean Committee for Space Technology said its scientists and engineers were "considering seriously the possibility of readjusting the launch period". On Friday, US Korea Institute at US Johns Hopkins University said that the delay is likely due to heavy snow.