The space authorities in the communist country of North Korea have said that they are delaying the proposed launch of a rocket to 29 December, 2012 after it recorded some technical deficiencies in the first stage.

The earlier announcement on 1, December has said that the rocket will be launched sometime between 10 and 22 December. The country's state controlled news agency said that the launch has been delayed after discovering a "technical deficiency".

The United States, Japan and South Korea suspect that the rocket launch is actually a test for developing a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. It is believed that the launch was scheduled for December 10-22 as that it coincides with the death of former North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il.

KCNA news agency quoted a space agency spokesman saying that the engineers "found a technical deficiency in the first-stage control engine module of the rocket carrying the satellite and decided to extend the satellite launch period up to December 29."

U. N. resolutions have imposed a ban on carrying out any missile or nuclear-related tests on the isolated country through resolutions after it conducted nuclear tests. The country maintains that the launch is aimed at putting a weather satellite into orbit.