N. Korea preparing missile launch

TOKYO: US satellites have picked up signs that North Korea is preparing to launch a long- range missile, a Japanese newspaper reported on Friday.

North Korea moved missile parts from its military factory in Pyong- yang to a launch pad in Tongchang- ri in the country’s far northwest in November, the Asahi

Shimbun said. The US government has already informed its counterparts in Japan and South Korea about the move, the daily said, adding that the three countries had increased vigilance.

The developments came after North Korea carried out a failed rocket launch in April in what the communist state said that was an attempt to put a satellite into orbit from the same launch pad.

According to the daily, images of the shipment recently taken by US satellites were similar to one used in the April launch.

Pyongyang is technically ready to launch a missile late November, but an immediate launch is unlikely ahead of South Korea’s presidential election next month, the Asahi said.

North Korea has not announced any plans to launch a rocket.

Immediate confirmation by the Japanese government was not available.

In Seoul, a South Korean defense ministry spokesman said that it could comment on any matter of intelligence, while a presidential Blue House spokeswoman said that she had no information.