N. Korea may launch ICBM again, say analysts

Anniversary of Korean War’s end a possible missile test date

Seoul: Speculation intensified that North Korea is preparing another missile launch to coincide with a military anniversary, just weeks after conducting its first successful test of an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) that experts warned could reach Alaska.

US and South Korean media reports cited intelligence and military officials as saying vehicles carrying launching equipment were seen on the move.

The test – which both Seoul and Washington officials warned could be of another ICBM – could coincide with the 64th anniversary of the end of the Korean War on July 27, reports said.

This is a public holiday in the nuclear-armed North and is celebrated as Victory Day.

The two Koreas have remained technically at war since the threeyear conflict ended only with a ceasefire rather than a full peace treaty.

“Movements by transporter erector launchers carrying (ICBM) launch tubes have been continuously observed in North Pyongan (province),” a South Korean government source was quoted as saying by the country’s Yonhap news agency.

“There is a high possibility that the North may carry out (the testlaunch) around the July 27 armistice day.”

The North in 2014 marked the armistice anniversary by firing a Scud- B short- range missile on July 26.

Yonhap also cited a South Korean military source as saying Pyongyang may be preparing to test a new type of ICBM or an intermediate-range missile, a class of missile below ICBMs with 3,000km to 5,500km of range.

On Monday CNN cited a US defence official as saying the North appeared to be preparing for another missile test.

That official said transporter vehicles carrying launching equipment were seen arriving at Kusong in North Pyongan last Friday.

The US network earlier cited US intelligence as indicating preparations for another test of an ICBM or intermediate-range missile.

Kusong also has been the scene of past tests, including in May when an intermediate-range ballistic missile travelled more than 700km. — AFP

Movements by launchers carrying ICBM tubes have been continuously observed in North Pyongan.

South Korean government source