North Korea Announces Plans to Launch a Satellite

North Korea has plans to launch an observational satellite before the end of February, a United Nations agency said on Tuesday.

"We have received information from DPRK regarding the launch of earth observation satellite 'Kwangmyongsong' between 8-25 February," a spokeswoman for the agency, the International Maritime Organization, told Reuters via email.

The spokeswoman, Natasha Brown, who referred to Korea using the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, added that the satellite will be launched between 7 a.m. and noon local time.

Kyodo News agency in Japan reported that North Korea also notified the International Telecommunication Union about Kwangmyongsong, which translates as Lode Star.

A South Korean official stated that the country is expecting debris to fall near the western coast. More debris is expected near Jeju Island.

With every new rocket launch, North Korea's missile technology continues to grow despite efforts to contain it. Many analysts believe that North Korea's goal is to have a missile that could hit the United States.

Per USA TODAY:

"Each new rocket launch improves North Korea's missile technology, which is crucial for its goal of developing a nuclear-armed missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. ...

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons. It calls its rocket launches satellite missions, but the U.N., the United States, South Korea and others say they are meant to test ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity."

In 2012, North Korea launched a long-range rocket test, claiming that it was an observational satellite. At the time, several groups and countries believed that the test was a front for the country's plans of creating ballistic missiles that could reach further distances. The U.S. State Department described that launch as "highly provocative."

North Korea continues to claim that the goal of its satellite program is to collect data for scientific purposes.

North Korea is currently under U.N. sanctions for carrying out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. Many countries have condemned North Korea's actions and are calling for newer sanctions.