Report: DPRK to close two air routes for rocket launch

TOKYO, March 21 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea

(DPRK) will close two aerial routes through its controlled airspace from April 4

to 8 for its planned communications satellite launch, Japan's transport ministry

said Saturday, according to Kyodo News.

The DPRK issued the notification on Saturday, saying the closure will be

from 11 a.m. on April 4 to 4 p.m. on April 8, Kyodo quoted the Ministry of Land,

Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as saying.

Pyongyang announced that it would launch a communications satellite between

April 4-8. However, some countries suspected it would be a long-range missile

capable of reaching North America.

Japan has declared it would shoot down any objects flying towards its

territory.