NKorea vows to go ahead with rocket launch plans

PYONGYANG, North Korea >>North Korea says it will go ahead with plans to launch an observation satellite into space and that criticism of it is provocative.

North Korea said Friday it would launch the satellite on a rocket next month. The U.S., South Korea and Japan condemn the plan as a disguised test of military missiles because the same type of rocket is used to launch long-range missiles.

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said Sunday such criticism is a "sinister" provocation by "hostile forces."

It says North Korea has a right to peaceful development in space.

The North says the hostile forces are "sadly mistaken" if they think it will cancel the launch plans.

Pyongyang said Saturday it has notified international agencies of its plans.