But South Korean,Japanese,and U.S. officials are skeptical about the North's plan and suspect the so-called satellite launch is in reality a way to test a long-range rocket.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

U.S.officials say the self-described satellite launch would only be a cover for a test of a long-range missile, perhaps a more advanced version of the one North Korea fired eastward over Japan in 1998.

VOA: standard.2009.03.25