SEOUL, South Korea, Rabi'II 25, 1437, Feb 4, 2016, SPA -- South Korea and Japan vowed to shoot down any debris that falls on their territories from a long-range rocket that North Korea plans to fire this month, with Seoul saying Thursday that it has detected launch preparations by Pyongyang, AP reported. North Korea has informed international organizations that it will launch an observation satellite aboard a rocket between Feb. 8 and 25. South Korea, the United States and others say such a move would be a cover for a banned test of a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. The launch announcement follows an outpouring of global condemnation over the North's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. South Korea's Defense Ministry said Thursday that the North is pushing ahead with the launch plans at its west coast Tongchang-ri launch site. Spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said South Korea is using Aegis-equipped destroyers, aircraft, sophisticated radars and other surveillance assets to monitor the North's launch preparations but refused to provide further details. --SPA 13:39 LOCAL TIME 10:39 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w