North Korea says preparations are underway to fire a long-range rocket into space.

The North’s foreign ministry announced Saturday that the launch of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite is the North Korean people's present for the centennial birthday of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, and a project that upholds the work of late leader Kim Jong-il.

The ministry said the launch is an exercise of North Korea's sovereign rights in accordance with international law, which is superior to UN Security Council resolutions.

The ministry said North Korea intends to uphold the agreement it reached with the U.S. in February regarding the halt of it's nuclear program, and the rocket launch should be dealt with separately from that agreement.