The government is taking measures to ensure the safety of South Korean flights and freighters ahead of North Korea's planned launch of its “Gwangmyeongseong Two" communications satellite.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which is under the Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ministry, says the air route over the Kamchatka Peninsula used by domestic airliners bound for North America is far away from the trajectory of the North Korean rocket and the presumed landing sites of its first- and second-stage boosters. But the agency says it is taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of airliners, taking into account the direction of jet streams and their speed.

The two national flag carriers --- Korean Air and Asiana Airlines --- operate an average of six flights a day on the Kamchatka route.

Meanwhile, vessels are urged to stay away from traveling at the time of the launch as the Pacific sea route used by South Korean cargo vessels is close to the impact point of the rocket booster.

North Korea said it will launch the satellite between April fourth and eighth.