Recent satellite images show that North Korea has been conducting tests at a rocket launch site, says a US academic organisation.

BBC: US institute: North Korea 'testing at rocket site'

South Korean defence officials say the main body of the rocket has now been moved to the launch site in preparation.

BBC: Obama warns North Korea against missile test launch

Russia will need a new rocket to get to Mars, though, and a new launch site to operate manned flights as early as in 2018.

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As a matter of fact, they already launched that aircraft carrier we bought them, along with a Tiangong-1 rocket that lifted the first module of a planned Chinese space station to orbit from a launch site in the Jiuquan, Gansu province.

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But officials said Wednesday's launch from the site 480km (298 miles) south of Seoul had gone as planned and that the rocket had reached its target altitude and deployed its satellite.

BBC: South Korea launches space rocket carrying satellite