All systems go... officials in North Korea seem to be moving forward with plans to launch a rocket sometime in the near future.<br/> <br />The rocket was being prepped with fuel Wednesday-- meaning it could blast off as early as Thursday.<br/> <br />Here in the control room, foreign media and aeronautical professionals from the U.S. and Russia were invited to witness the launch.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) SPACE POLICY EXPERT FROM THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF COSMONAUTS YURI KARASH SAYING:<br/> <br />"Well this one is definitely of a smaller size than the mission control center in Houston or in Korolev, but from what I can see, it is a fully operational mission control centre which may be adequately equipped to control the Korean satellite."<br/> <br />But the plans are garnering criticism from friends and foes alike.... In nearby Japan, a make-shift military base has been set up to deploy a ballistic missile defence system should debris from the rocket threaten Japanese territory.<br/> <br />U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the decision to launch is proof North Korea sees the outside world as a threat.<br/> <br />Even China, which usually remains silent on matters with North Korea, is calling for calm and restraint.<br/> <br />Although North Korea maintains the launch is designed to put a weather satellite into space, it does breach U.N sanctions imposed to prevent Pyonygyang from developing missiles that could carry nuclear warheads.<br/> <br />Julie Noce, Reuters
