South Korea's defense ministry said Monday it is preparing to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it strays into the South's airspace during a launch planned for next month.

The North has announced it will fire the rocket between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding president Kim Il Sung.

A South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman told reporters that the launch would be carefully monitored and any part of the rocket that deviated from its course and strayed over South Korean territory would be targeted. Japan has said it might do the same if the rocket strays over its territory.

Pyongyang says the launch will take place at a site in North Phyongan province, and will take the rocket over the Yellow Sea, between South Korea and China. Previous missiles have passed over Japan.