The spokesman's comments came soon after reports emerged that the North had deployed fighter planes to fend off any attempts to intercept the rocket, which it says will be putting a satellite into orbit.

"Restraint in rocket activities would help allay the international community's concerns, and build trust in the context of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear problem," Andrei Nesterenko said.

He urged Pyongyang to avoid "fanning the flames" and escalating tensions in the region.

Last month, North Korea announced its plans to launch what it says is a communications satellite April on 4-8 from its Musudan-ri launch site. The U.S., Japan and South Korea, who have condemned the plans, believe that the secretive state is planning to test its Taepodong-2 long-range missile.

North Korea says its Kwangmyongsong-2 experimental satellite will be put into orbit for "peaceful purposes".

Russia and China have stopped short of condemning the launch.

Last Friday, Japan's Security Council gave its approval for the military to destroy the North Korean rocket should it pose a threat to Japanese security.

Japan's Kyodo reported that two Aegis guided-missile destroyers had set sail from Nagasaki en route to the Sea of Japan on Saturday to intercept the rocket if necessary.

On Tuesday the North's official news agency warned that if Japan intercepts the rocket, it will "consider this the start of Japan's war of re-invasion more than six decades after the Second World War, and mercilessly destroy all its interceptor means and citadels with the most powerful military means."

The Russian spokesman said: "We believe it is important not to make any rash conclusions" and to "refrain from making any evaluations until the incident occurs."

U.S. media quoted senior officials earlier on Thursday as saying the North had begun fuelling the rocket, suggesting that it will be ready for lift off in three or four days' time.

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