Seoul, Aug 19 (DPA) South Korea prepared to launch its first space rocket Wednesday with the aim of sending a scientific satellite into orbit.

Following a series of delays, the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, a Russian-made device, was scheduled to launch from the country's space centre on the south coast between 4.40 and 6.20 p.m. (0740 and 0920 GMT), the Yonhap news agency reported.

The final tests of the $402 million rocket were successful, officials said earlier.

If successful, the country would join a group of nine others who succeeded in putting domestically developed scientific satellites into orbit.

North Korea, the country's Stalinist neighbour, said it planned to carefully monitor international reactions to the launch. The country was the target of international criticism after launching a long-range missile in April, claiming to put a satellite into orbit.

The launch is widely believed to have been a test for North Korea's long-range ballistic missile programme. Both Washington and Seoul have said no satellite was launched.