North Korea has announced plans to launch a satellite later this month, a UN agency says.

Washington described the launch plan as an “egregious violation” of a UN ban on missile launches in the country and called for more sanctions.

North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear bomb test on 6 January, drawing international condemnation.

Critics called Pyongyang’s last satellite launch a cover for a test of ballistic missile technology.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) says it was notified of Pyongyang’s plans to launch a satellite between 8 and 25 February.

US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Russel said the planned launch argued “even more strongly” for tougher UN sanctions.