U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wants North Korea to call off its planned long-range rocket launch, his spokesman said Wednesday.

"The secretary-general believes that it is important for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to refrain from using ballistic missile technology and to work for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.

North Korea has informed international organizations it will launch an earth observation satellite between Feb. 8-25, confirming widespread concern it is readying for a banned long-range rocket launch just weeks after its fourth nuclear test.

The North has long argued its rocket launches are aimed at putting satellites into orbit, claiming it has the right to the peaceful use of space. But Pyongyang is banned from such launches under U.N. Security Council resolutions as it has been accused of using them as a cover for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Experts say long-range rockets and ICBMs are basically the same with differences only in payloads.

South Korea has urged North Korea to cancel the planned launch, warning that Pyongyang will "pay a harsh price" if it goes ahead with the plan. The U.S. also denounced the North's move, saying it shows the need for "real consequences" for such provocative acts.

Even China, which has provided the North with economic aid and diplomatic protection, expressed "serious concern," saying that Pyongyang's right to the peaceful use of space is now restricted by U.N. Security Council resolutions, and urged the North to exercise restraint. (Yonhap)