NK Begins Fueling Rocket for Launch: CNN

North Korea has begun fueling a rocket that carries a satellite at the launch pad of its northeastern base, CNN reported Wednesday, citing informed military sources.

Pyongyang has said it will launch the satellite between this Saturday and Wednesday as part of a peaceful space program, although North Korea's neighbors and the U.S. suspect the launch is a cover for testing its ballistic missile technology, according to Yonhap News Agency.

With the fueling started, a launch is likely only days away.

CNN quoted a senior U.S. military official as saying, "There is no reason to doubt that it is a satellite, as indicated by North Korea."

"The satellite payload appears to have a bulbous cover, which could indicate that there is a satellite loaded on it," the report said. "Such a cover protects a satellite from damage in flight."

North Korea's latest move came while U.S. President Barack Obama was in London to meet with the leaders of the Group of 20 advanced economies.

Obama met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev bilaterally a day ahead of the G-20 economic summit. The U.S. president conveyed his intention to refer the rocket launch to the U.N Security Council, a move which could lead to further sanctions against North Korea, according to senior White House officials accompanying Obama.

"The Chinese clearly are concerned about the prospect of a launch and they know that we'll be going to the U.N. Security Council," one official said, adding that he was not sure how the Chinese would respond to such a move.