North Korean ICBM Moved to Launch Pad

It was revealed yesterday that the government is preparing measures based on the judgment that there is a possibility of North Korean test launching the missile Taepodong 2 or the improved version of Taepodong 2 this weekend.

The government is also known to have confirmed the fact that North Korea has already erected the missile body onto the launch pad.

The four procedures for a missile launch are: the assembling of the missile components, the installment of the missile on the launch pad, the filling of the liquid fuels, and finally, the launch itself.

A government official said on that day, “They have not filled the fuel yet.”

Kyoto News of Japan also reported same day that North Korea has already erected the missile on the launch pad, quoting from a source with access to the military information of the U.S.

A U.S government official, regarding the preparation by North Korea to test launch the missile, said, “For the last 48 hours, an extremely alarming situation broke out. If the missile is actually launched, the U.S. cannot hold back from taking strong measures, in which case Japan will act as well,” Kyoto News added.

Kyoto News reported that the U.S. official said that the restrictions by the UN Security Council can be seen as a countermeasure and added, “We will urge South Korea for a joint reaction.”

Asahi Shimbun reported that the U.S. handed Japan a satellite photograph of the missile being carried to the launch pad location this week.

The Japan Defense Agency is reported to have strengthened its air guard mobilizing the defense system AEGIS and the scout plane EP3 of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Reuters also reported on June 16 that North Korea is speeding up preparations for the test launch of the missile which could take place as early as this weekend.

Myoung-Gun Lee Young-A Soh gun43@donga.com sya@donga.com