The Unification Ministry has begun operating a special team to deal with North Korea’s planned rocket launch.

Led by the head of the Unification Policy Department, Kim Cheon-sik, the "North Korean Missile Team” comprises 12 officials from the ministry. It will operate around the clock to monitor Pyongyang’s launch and the movements of South Korean visitors to the North.

A ministry official explained that the word “missile” was used in the team's title after Unification Minister Hyeon In-taek described the rocket as a missile. The official added that it did not discuss the creation of the title with other ministries prior to naming the team.

Starting Friday, the Unification Ministry will be in emergency operations mode until the situation stabilizes.