S. Korea urges N. Korea to cancel rocket launch

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea urged North Korea on Wednesday to cancel its plan to launch a rocket, warning that Pyongyang will "pay a harsh price" if it goes ahead with the plan. North Korea has informed the International Maritime Organization that it will launch a satellite between Feb. 8-25. Cho Tae-yong, deputy chief of the presidential office of national security, called the North's notification a "challenge" to the international community, citing the U.N. Security Council's ongoing discussions to punish North Korea for its fourth nuclear test last month. "North Korea should withdraw its plan for a launch by recognizing that any launch using ballistic missile technology violates the Security Council resolutions," Cho said. "We sternly warn that North Korea will pay a harsh price" if it goes ahead with the rocket launch, he said. (END)