Obama urges North Korea to stop rocket launch

STRASBOURG — President Barack Obama says North Korea should stop its expected rocket launch.

The U.S. president is calling the planned launch provocative. And, he says the threat of it has put "enormous strains" on international talks over North Korea's disputed nuclear ambitions.

Obama says the United States has made those points clear to North Korea. But he says that country's response has been unhelpful and the country is using language that led to its isolation. Obama says North Korea cannot threaten the "safety and security of other countries with impunity."

The reclusive country was pressing ahead with final preparations to blast a multistage rocket over Japan.