The U.S. Defense Department has reiterated that any launch of a rocket by North Korea would be in violation of a U.N. resolution.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters Wednesday that both space vehicle and missile launches by the North are prohibited by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, primarily because the technologies used by both are indistinguishable.

Asked if the U.S. would shoot down a rocket if one approaches the U.S., Morrell said he will not get into what, if any, preparations the U.S. makes to deal with such a scenario.

Morrell stressed that the Pentagon is closely monitoring the situation surrounding the North’s preparations for a launch.