Global Security Newswire

Assembly appears to be under way on a North Korean missile with a flight range that could allow it to reach the United States, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, June 2).

The weapon could be an improved version of the Taepodong 2 model Pyongyang is believed to have tested in April, according to the South Korean JoonAng Ilbo newspaper.

North Korea is attempting to conceal the weapon, "the length of its propulsion rocket seems to be longer than the last one fired in April although its shape looks similar," a government official told the newspaper.

Reports earlier this week indicated that a long-range missile had already been placed on a launchpad at an installation on the west coast of North Korea. The regime is also believed to be readying for test launches of a number of medium-range missiles (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, June 3).

The South Korean report said the long-range missile launch could occur by the middle of this month, according to Reuters (Jack Kim, Reuters, June 3).

"After carrying out a missile test, it usually takes at least six months to adjust defects and prepare to fire another one," JoonAng Ilbo quoted a military official as saying. "Now, the North is preparing to do it again after just two months. It seems the North is in quite a hurry."

Some experts have speculated that Pyongyang's recent activities -- which have included an underground nuclear detonation and multiple short-range missile launches -- are part of an effort by dictator Kim Jong Il to reassert his authority in advance of handing over power to his youngest son, Kim Jong Un (Agence France-Presse).