North Korea could try to put a satellite into orbit within the next week or so, a South Korean official said, as Seoul warned Pyongyang to halt a rocket launch it sees violating U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Kang Ho-pil, the chief director of operations at South Korea¡¯s Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pyongyang ¡°to immediately stop¡± preparations for another launch after two previous efforts failed.

¡°If North Korea goes ahead with the military spy satellite launch despite our warning, our military will come up with necessary measures to protect the lives and safety of our people,¡± he was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency on Monday. He did not elaborate on what measures South Korea had in mind.