UN chief urges NKorea to reconsider rocket launch

[March 24, 2012]  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging North Korea to reconsider its plan to launch a long-range rocket.

Ban's office said in a statement that he made the comments Saturday during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. Ban arrived in Seoul earlier in the day to attend next week's Nuclear Security Summit.

North Korea says it will launch an observation satellite on a long-range rocket next month. The United States and South Korea fear Pyongyang wants to test long-range missiles that could eventually deliver nuclear warheads.

Ban warned earlier this week that the North's launch plan threatens regional peace.

[Associated Press]

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