Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Monday during a parliamentary session that he will work with other leaders to urge Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abandon its rocket launch plan.

He said Japan will try to put pressure on DPRK together with more than 50 countries' leaders at the second Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka said during the session that he will issue an order soon to prepare to intercept the rocket if it falls within Japan's territory.

The defense minister is considering moving ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors in Okinawa Prefecture and other areas. Tanaka also indicated that he is considering making arrangements to deploy PAC-3 in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The DPRK announced on March 16 it would launch an "earth observation" satellite, or the Kwangmyongsong-3, using a long- range rocket to mark the 100th birthday of late leader Kim Il-Sung.

The satellite would be launched from a station in North Phyongan province between April 12 and 16, the DPRK's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported, citing a spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology.