Report: North Korea May Launch ICBM Soon

by Stephan Tawney on May 31, 2009

North Korea may test-fire a long-range ballistic missile capable of striking U.S. territory this month, reports from the region indicate.

SEOUL, May 30 (Xinhua) — Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK) appears to be preparing for a long-range missile test, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported on Saturday, citing an informed source.

The source, asking not to be identified, said an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was recently spotted on a cargo train near Pyongyang, Yonhap said.

The missile has since been moved to an undisclosed location, according to the source.

“It usually takes about two months to set up a launch pad, but the process could be done in as little as two weeks, which means the North could launch a long-range missile as early as in mid-June,” the source said.

Defense sources tell Xinhua that activity has also been spotted at the munitions factory designed for the creation of the long-range ballistic misiles.



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