North Korea has put a long-range missile in place for a launch the United States warned would violate U.N. sanctions already imposed on the reclusive state for past weapons tests.
South Korea said on Thursday the launch, which like the United States it considers a disguised military exercise, would be a serious challenge to regional security.
The planned launch is the first major test for U.S. President Barack Obama in dealing with the prickly North, whose efforts to build a nuclear arsenal is seen as a top security threat to one of the world's most economically powerful regions and which has plagued relations with Washington for years.
The South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo quoted a diplomatic source saying the North could technically fire the missile, which has the range to hit U.S. territory, by the weekend. This is earlier than the April 4-8 timeframe Pyongyang announced for what it says is the launch of a communications satellite.
"Technically a launch is possible within three to four days," the Chosun Ilbo quoted a diplomatic source in Seoul as saying.
The U.S. has spy satellites trained on Taepodong-2 missile launch pad at North Korea's east coast Musudan-ri missile base. Read more...