Diplomats scurry to halt North Korean rocket launch

Diplomats engaged in a flurry of behind-the-scenes efforts to persuade North Korea to cancel a rocket launch as the isolated regime pressed ahead with final preparations for a lift-off as early as tomorrow.

North Korea says it will send a communications satellite into orbit, but the US, South Korea and Japan believe the reclusive country is using the launch to test long-range missile technology – a move they have warned would violate a United Nations Security Council resolution banning the North from ballistic activity.