Land Ministry pledges preparation to protect against NK rocket

The Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ministry on Tuesday pledged "thorough preparation" to protect ships and airplanes that could be hit by North Korea`s planned launch of a rocket this week.

The ministry will monitor ships moving in waters where the rocket propellant is likely to drop while ensuring that airplanes take roundabout routes.

The first propellant of the Kwangmyongsong-3 is expected to fall into waters 170 kilometers west of Gunsan City, North Jeolla Province, in South Korea and the second 140 kilometers east of the Philippines.

To protect ships, all of South Korea`s 15 maritime traffic control centers will issue vital navigation warnings to safeguard vessels operating off the western and southwestern coasts every two hours until the firing ends. Additional traffic controllers will be dispatched in the western areas of Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, Daesan, Incheon and Mokpo with a single controller in each area taking charge.

For airline safety, the ministry banned flights in areas where rocket propellants are likely to drop. Korean Air Flight #879 that departs from Jeju for Beijing at 8:20 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays will have to fly 180 kilometers off the North Korean rocket`s likely path.