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The United States says it has detected “increased activity” in North Korea which suggests the hermit regime is preparing for a space launch.
“Our concern though is that they do a space-launch but really it’s the same technology to develop ICBMs,” an official told Reuters on Thursday.
The US said the activity suggested the movement of equipment and propellant which could be used to carry out the launch within “the next few weeks.”
The Kyodo news agency warned that the launch could take place as soon as next week, quoting a government source.
“Japan’s analysis on the satellite images over a period of days indicate that North Korea might conduct a long-range missile test within a week,” the source said.
The officials did not state exactly where the increased activity took place, though North Korea carries out many of its military tests at a site in Kilju County.
Another official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to AFP, said the launch did not appear to be “ballistic-missile related.”
“The indications are that they are preparing for some kind of launch…could be for a satellite or a space vehicle – there are a lot of guesses. North Korea does this periodically, they move things back and forth… There’s nothing to indicate it’s ballistic-missile related.”
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk