North Korea will close two flight routes over its airspace from April 4 to 8 when it launches what it claims is a communications satellite, the transport ministry said Saturday.
The routes will be closed from 11 a.m. on April 4 to 4 p.m. on April 8, according to a notification issued by North Korea on Saturday, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry said.
Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and foreign airlines serving Japan don't use the routes, the ministry said.
North Korea has said it will likely launch the satellite sometime between April 4 and 8. But some countries suspect the satellite story is just a cover for what is really the test-firing of a long-range ballistic missile.