North preparing for launch

North Korea could test-fire a long-range missile under the guise of a space launch in as little as a couple of weeks, a USA government official reportedly said Thursday.

It comes as the UN Security Council discusses imposing fresh sanctions against North Korea after it conducted a fourth nuclear test on 6 January.

Signs have been observed that North Korea is likely preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile from the Sohae satellite launching station in Tongchang-ri, northwestern North Korea, a South Korean government source said Thursday.

“Could be to get a satellite or a space vehicle – there certainly are plenty of speculations”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and senior Chinese Communist Party official Liu Yunshan (R) wave during celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. Pyongyang has traditionally paired a rocket test and a nuclear blast fairly closely together; it launched its last rocket in December 2012 and carried out a nuclear test the following February.

An analysis by 38 North, a North Korea monitoring project at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, said the cover near the gantry tower could hide a rocket, and a rail-mounted shelter has been moved adjacent to the engine-test stand on the site.

“North Korea has already tested tactical missiles having a range of 1,200-1,500 kilometers”.

Calls for the deployment further increased as Pyongyang was seen preparing for a long-range rocket launch.

Secretary Kerry, on his visit to Beijing, warned that the North’s activities were a “threat the United States must take extremely seriously”, the Monitor reported.

Responding to a question on whether Japan will shoot down a North Korean missile, Mr. Nakatani said “We will take steps to respond, but I will refrain from revealing specific measures given the nature of the situation”.

A Japanese government spokesman told a news conference that Japan was analysing information on movements concerning North Korea’s missiles with “great interest”.

Washington is pushing for a strong United Nations response, including enhanced sanctions.

Kim also stressed that Pyongyang used to notify China and the United States before carrying out nuclear tests, though this time did not.

The Senate bill would sanction anyone who engages in, facilitates or contributes to North Korea’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms-related materials, luxury goods, human rights abuses, activities undermining cyber security and the provision of metals or coal for use in such activities.