North Korea has admitted that technical problems might make it delay a rocket launch, as Seoul pursues a last-ditch attempt to persuade its neighbour to abandon the plan.

Pyongyang confirmed last week that it was planning a satellite launch between December 10 and December 22, following media reports based on photographs showing apparent preparations at its launch site near the Chinese border.

However, North Korean state media yesterday reported an official spokesman as saying the window for launching the satellite had been extended to December 29. “Scientists and technicians?.?.?.?are pushing forward the preparations for the launch,” he said. “They, however, found technical deficiency in the first-stage control engine module of the rocket carrying the satellite.”