The United States says South Korea’s development of a space program has been done in a manner in line with international accords and security.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters Tuesday that South Korea has developed its space launch program in a very open and transparent way and in keeping with the international agreements that it has signed onto. Kelly said that is in stark contrast to the example set by North Korea, which has not abided by its international agreements during its pursuit of a space program.

Kelly added that Washington has regularly consulted Seoul on a number of issues relating to security. He made the comment as South Korea is set to launch its first space rocket on Wednesday.

Kelly’s remark comes after the North’s Foreign Ministry said last week that Pyongyang will closely watch if the members of the six-way nuclear talks will refer South Korea's satellite launch to the U.N. Security Council as they had done with the North’s attempted launch in April.