Washington - The United States is making last-minute efforts to convince North Korea to stop a missile or satellite launch that could come as early as Saturday, according to the US envoy to the region, and he warned the North Koreans should expect consequences if the launch goes ahead as planned.

Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, the State Department's special representative for North Korea, said the United States was pressing its case against the Stalinist regime through a variety of diplomatic avenues.

Tokyo  - Japan may extend economic sanctions against North Korea past their April 13 deadline if Pyongyang goes ahead with a planned rocket launch, a top government spokesman said Thursday.

Japan "aims to reinforce its stance in seeking progress in dialogue [with North Korea]" by extending sanctions for another year, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a press conference.

The Stalinist state has been preparing to launch a communications satellite between April 4 - 8, which is widely believed to be a cover for a long-range ballistic missile test.

Seoul - North Korea on Wednesday threatened to shoot down US spy planes flying entering its airspace ahead of a planned satellite launch.

The state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station accused the United States and South Korea in a radio broadcast of violation of North Korean airspace.

At least 190 reconnaissance flights had occurred in March alone, including flights over the Musudan-ri launch site on North Korea's east coast, the South Korean Yonhap news agency quoted the station as saying.

The Hague (Netherlands), Apr. 1 : US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned North Korea that its plans to launch a missile is being considered as another provocation against Japan, and hence, North Korea should be ready to face the consequences.

“It is an unfortunate and continuing example of provocation by the North Koreans. Japan has every right to protect and defend its territory,” Fox News quoted Clinton, as saying at a conference in The Hague.

Noting possible UN Security Council actions, she added, “There will be consequences.”

Seoul - The football teams of North and South Korea meet for the fourth time in 2010 World Cup qualifying Wednesday as both countries continue their quest for a ticket to next year's finals in South Africa.

The previous three encounters have all ended in draws, the most recent result a 1-1 six months ago. However, the sporting encounters been the two teams have been overshadowed by the ongoing political tensions on the Korean Peninsula and Wednesday's match at the World Cup stadium in Seoul is proving no different.

Tokyo - The Japanese parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution urging North Korea to halt its scheduled rocket launch.

The resolution was adopted unanimously during the parliamentary session, calling the possible launch of a long-range ballistic missile "an action that would damage peace and stability not only in Japan but in the north-east Asian region."

Japan would not "tolerate the act and would demonstrate its firm protest against the notice of the launch."