DPRK urged to halt rocket plan

Pyongyang insists it will comply with international regulations

Russia urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Monday to rethink its plan to launch a rocket later this month, as the Republic of Korea said Pyongyang has installed the first stage of the rocket.

"We urgently appeal to the government (of the DPRK) to reconsider the decision to launch a rocket," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.