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N. Korea deploys advanced fighter jets ahead of rocket launch: official
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has deployed a fleet of MiG-23 fighter jets along the east coast where it is gearing up to launch a rocket to send what it claims is a "satellite" into orbit, a senior Air Force official said Thursday.
The latest relocation of the advanced fighter jets comes as the communist North steps up its warnings against any foreign attempt to intercept its rocket.
South Korea, Japan and the U.S. maintain the launch will likely be a disguised test of a ballistic missile capable of hitting Alaska and have warned it will trigger U.N. sanctions.
The three countries have deployed their Aegis-guided destroyers in the East Sea while the North's military said it will strike back at "any minor attempt" to interfere with the launch.
"We are closely monitoring the movement of the jets," the official said by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity and declining to share further information because he feared it would expose the South Korean monitoring capabilities.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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