SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik on Tuesday ordered full readiness ahead of North Korea's planned rocket launch, saying it requires close cooperation with the international community.

   The rocket launch planned for mid-April has drawn international condemnation as a cover for a long-range missile test, although North Korea insists it is a legitimate use of space technology to put an earth observation satellite into orbit.

   "This is a grave provocation," Kim said during a Cabinet meeting, reiterating the government's stance on the launch. "(We must) work closely with the international community to thoroughly examine and respond to the North's movements. We must maintain solid response readiness."

   Seoul's presidential office issued a condemnation Monday accusing the North of aiming to develop a long-range ballistic missile capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

   The move came after North Korea announced Friday it will launch an Unha-3 rocket carrying the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite from a launching station in the western part of the country between April 12 and 16, around the 100th anniversary of the birth of late founding leader Kim Il-sung.

   Also speaking on domestic issues, the prime minister expressed concern at a series of recent accidents that have prompted fears about safety at nuclear power plants and other industrial sites.

   "These accidents resulted from a lack of adherence to regulations and manuals," he said, instructing officials to "work exhaustively to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents."

   He said that a rigid corporate culture and communication systems at workplaces can lead to slow initial responses to an emergency.

   The prime minister was referring to an electricity cut at a nuclear power plant that was only reported to authorities a month later. Recent fires have also destroyed parts of a thermal power plant and a venue for the upcoming Yeosu Expo, while a gas explosion at a waste recycling center killed one worker and injured five more.

   hague@yna.co.kr
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