South Korea says North will pay a 'severe price' for missile launch

Units of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles stand at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo January 29, 2016. REUTERS/Kyodo

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Wednesday North Korea's announced plan to launch a satellite is really a plan to launch a long-range missile and warned that the North will pay a "severe price" if it goes ahead.

North Korea should immediately call off the planned launch, which is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the South's presidential Blue House said in a statement.