Radio Free Asia reports that the United States is under the impression that North Korea will launch a ballistic missile and not a satellite.

The Washington-based broadcaster quoted a high-ranking U.S. State Department official as making the remark in response to reporters’ questions on what the U.S. government believes North Korea will launch in April.

Pyongyang has informed the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization that it plans to launch a communications satellite some time between April fourth and eighth.

The official also said the U.N. Security Council will discuss placing sanctions on North Korea if it violates a resolution reached by the council.

The official played down reports out of Seoul that Pyongyang had notified the U.S. directly of its planned satellite launch, saying the U.S. received the information through a U.N. agency.