SEOUL - North Korea is ignoring opposition from neighboring countries and assembling a rocket to transport a satellite into orbit, a South Korean source said Friday.
The unidentified source said while North Korea's neighbors have warned the Asian country against preparing for a long-rang missile test-fire, it appears work is under way on a Taepodong-2 missile in the country's northeast region, the Yonhap News Agency said.
The North Korean government claims the missile is being outfitted with equipment in order to serve as a transport for a communications satellite.
But officials in a number of unidentified neighboring countries suspect North Korea is working on a long-range missile that could reach as far as Alaska.
Work on the missile should be completed ahead of North Korea's parliamentary elections next month, South Korean officials said.
Yonhap said a 2006 test-fire of a Taepodong-2 missile by North Korea resulted in the long-range missile crashing shortly after being launched.
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