Lee says North Korea rocket launch could be on Saturday

LONDON (Reuters) - North Korea is almost certain to launch its long-range rocket, possibly as early as Saturday if weather allows, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said on Friday, promising a "strong and stern response."

"I think it's almost certain North Korea will fire the missile," he told a small group of reporters in London where he had attended the G20 summit.

He also said the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, widely thought to have suffered a stroke last year, appeared to be improving and that he looked to have a continued hold on power.

He repeated that any missile launch would be a violation of U.N. sanctions and that he wanted the international community to send a stern message to Pyongyang over the issue.

(Reporting by Sean Maguire and Jonathan Thatcher)