North Korea positions rocket, prepares launch

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — Just hours after the United States warned that North Korea would achieve nothing with threats or provocations, Pyongyang moved a long-range rocket it plans to test fire to a launch pad Monday, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said.

A U.S. official said the United States also has seen signs the North Koreans are preparing to launch a long-range rocket.

The news broke at the start of a two-day nuclear summit in Seoul that is bringing together leaders from the United States, Russia, China and dozens of other nations to discuss how to deal with nuclear terrorism and how to secure the world’s nuclear material.

Overshadowing the summit’s message of international cooperation was an announcement by North Korea that it plans to carry out a rocket-powered satellite launch in mid-April.

South Korea has said it considers the satellite launch an attempt to develop a nuclear-armed missile, while U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday such a launch would bring repercussions.

“Here in Korea, I want to speak directly to the leadership in Pyongyang. The United States has no hostile intent toward your country,” Obama said during a speech to students at Seoul’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

“But by now it should be clear, your provocations and pursuit of nuclear weapons have not achieved the security you seek. They have undermined it.”