The White House yesterday warned North Korea that its planned long-range missile launch would be a flagrant breach of the country's international obligations and would jeopardise food aid from Washington.

The launch of the Unha-3 rocket, which North Korea says will put a weather satellite into space, breaches UN sanctions imposed to prevent Pyongyang from developing a missile that could carry a nuclear warhead.

"The proposed missile launch, if conducted, would represent a clear and serious violation of North Korea's obligations under two United Nations Security Council resolutions," the White House said.