Seoul - South Korea warned North Korea Friday that it risked "countermeasures" from the United Nations if it goes ahead with a planned rocket launch.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan said in Seoul that it did not matter whether the launch was of satellite, as North Korea has claimed, or an intercontinental ballistic missile, as its neighbours and the United States fear, because either way the matter would be taken before the UN Security Council.

Either a satellite or missile launch would violate a 2006 Security Council resolution passed after North Korea conducted its first nuclear test and a series of missile launches, Yu's ministry said in a statement. The resolution demanded that the Stalinist country give up its nuclear and missile tests.

"If North Korea presses ahead with a launch, there will be Security Council-level consultation and countermeasures," the ministry said.

Seoul's warning came after Pyongyang informed international maritime and aviation safety organizations this week that it planned the launch of a satellite between April 4 and 8.

The International Civil Aviation Organization identified two danger zones where rocket parts might impact, one in the Sea of Japan off Japan's north-west coast and the other in the Pacific Ocean.

South Korea, the United States and Japan all said they believe North Korea is using its announced satellite launch as cover for what in reality would be a test of its Taepodong-2 missile, which could potentially carry a nuclear warhead and reach the western coast of the United States. (dpa)