UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said on Friday that he is "seriously concerned" about a plan of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launch a satellite.

"The secretary-general is seriously concerned by the announcement of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) today, March 16, to launch a so-called 'application satellite' next month," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.

"The secretary-general reiterates his call on the DPRK to fully comply with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, particularly including the resolution 1874 (2009) which bans 'any launch using ballistic missile technology'," said the statement.

Earlier on Friday, DPRK's official news agency, KCNA, reported that the Asian country is to launch in mid-April a working satellite, Kwangmyongsong-3, domestically manufactured with indigenous technology to mark the 100th birth anniversary of its late former leader Kim IL Sung.

"The secretary-general urges the DPRK to reconsider its decision in line with its recent undertaking to refrain from long- range missile launches," the statement added.