Russia Urges North Korea Not To Test Launch Rocket

Statement issued by Russian foreign ministry

Russia is urging North Korea not to go ahead with a planned rocket launch later this month.  The statement was issued Monday by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russia joins an international chorus expressing concern about the North's intentions.  Pyongyang says the rocket will carry an earth observation satellite into orbit, but the effort is widely suspected to be a cover for testing North Korea's ballistic missile technology.