South Korea's multipurpose satellite Arirang Three, now under development, will likely be launched in Japan on a Japanese rocket in 2011.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) on Thursday said that it has selected Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the preferred negotiator for the launch of the satellite following international bidding.

A KARI official said that if negotiations with Mitsubishi are successful, a final contract for the launch will be concluded as early as next month.