The United States says the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket on its northeast coastal launch pad.

The action is in anticipation of the launch of a communications satellite early next month.

The US has confirmed Japanese news reports of the expected launch between April 4th and 8th.

Images taken in February appear to show some activity at the site. But regional powers worry as they did in 1998 that the claim of a satellite launch is a cover for the launch of a long-range missile.

South Korea, the US and Japan have urged the DPRK to refrain from the launch, calling it a violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

The DPRK insists it has the right to develop its space program. It has warned the US, Japan and its allies not to interfere with the launch.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2009)