North Korea moves forward start of rocket launch period

North Korea has moved forward its launch-window for a test rocket by a day besides considerably narrowing the period, the Japanese government said on Saturday.

Pyongyang now plans to conduct the launch -- which has drawn condemnation from neighbours South Korea and Japan -- between February 7 and 14, Kyodo news agency reported.

The earlier launch-window was from February 8 to 25.

The areas where debris would fall remain unchanged.

Though North Korea says it is putting a satellite into orbit, the launch is viewed by others as a front for a ballistic missile test.