North Korea Plans Second Rocket Launch in December

North Korea is to carry out its second rocket launch this year in December.

State news agency KCNA said on Saturday that the launch of a rocket carrying a satellite would take place between December 10 and December 22, Reuters reported.

North Korea says its launches are for peaceful purposes, although Washington and Seoul claim the state is testing long-range missile technology with the aim of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

North Korea undertook a similar launch in April that was aborted a few minutes into its mission.