South Korea says it will launch its first rocket in the second quarter of next year, slipping the schedule from December after officials decided that preflight checks should be more comprehensive. Delayed delivery of parts for the launch pad also contributed to the decision to delay the first flight of the KSLV 1 rocket, 80 percent of whose parts are being supplied by Russia. The launch pad – at the Naro Space Center in Goheung in the province South Jeolla – also is being built with Russian help.

The United States will supply Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawks to South Korea, despite earlier refusal and doubts that such a sale was allowable under the Missile Technology Control Regime. Washington has worked out a way of supplying the surveillance drones that does not breach the regime, says the Choson Ilbo newspaper, without giving details. The regime is an international agreement intended to restrict the proliferation of potential systems that could deliver weapons of mass destruction.

Indonesian state domestic airline Merpati Nusantara will cut its staff by more than half while international operator Garuda Indonesia moves closer to privatization. The sackings at Merpati are a condition on 350 billion rupiah (US$39 million) in government money that will be used to recapitalize the unprofitable carrier. Another condition is that management produce a feasible business plan.