N. Korean rocket nearly intercepts Chinese passenger plane

BEIJING, March 6 (UPI) -- A North Korean rocket, firedTuesday, nearly struck a Chinese passenger plane traveling from Japan, the Chinese Defense Ministry revealed.

The ministry said Wednesday "a very dangerous situation" arose when China Southern Airlines flight CZ628 passed through the trajectory of a rocket, launched without warning to civilian planes by North Korea.

The plane, carrying 220 passengers from Tokyo to Shenyang, China, was traveling northwest as the rocket flew northeast. They missed each other by about six minutes, although they flew at different altitudes, the South Korea newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported Thursday.

"Such a provocation by the North (Korea) poses a serious threat to international flights and the safety of civilians," Chinese military spokesman Kim Min-seok said.