SEOUL, South Korea

North Korea will try again to launch long-range rocket

North Korea announced Saturday that it would attempt to launch a long-range rocket in mid-December, a defiant move just eight months after a failed April bid was widely condemned as a violation of a U.N. ban against developing its nuclear and missile programs.

The launch, set for Dec. 10 to 22, would be North Korea’s second launch attempt under leader Kim Jong Un, who took power following his father Kim Jong Il’s death nearly a year ago. The announcement followed speculation overseas about stepped-up activity at North Korea’s west coast launch pad captured in satellite imagery.

BEIJING

House in middle of road – and controversy – bulldozed

Authorities have demolished a five-story home that stood incongruously in the middle of a new main road and had become the latest symbol of resistance by Chinese homeowners against officials accused of offering unfair compensation.

Xiayangzhang village chief Chen Xuecai said the house was bulldozed Saturday after its owners, duck farmer Luo Baogen and his wife, agreed to accept compensation of 260,000 yuan ($41,000).

The couple had been the lone holdouts from a neighborhood that was demolished to make way for the thoroughfare in Zhejiang province.

GOMA, Congo

Rebels retreat from Goma, seek talks with government

Rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda completed their retreat from Congo’s eastern provincial capital on Saturday less than two weeks after taking control of the strategic city, a military official said.

The retreat, however, may be tentative after a leader for the M23 rebels said they now wanted to negotiate with the government within 48 hours.

— From news service reports