Report: North Korea missile launcher ready to fire

Japanese defense official says Musudan ballistic missiles in launch position; Japan on high alert for fear of North Korean missile attack

A senior Japanese defense official said Thursday that North Korea's Musudan missile launcher has moved to firing mode and is ready for launch, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported. According to the report, Japan is on high alert fearing a North Korean missile attack.

 

The report stated that North Korea's ballistic missiles, which have a range of 4,000 km, are in the launch position. Japan has already deployed Patriot missiles in anticipation of a possible test fire in North Korea who last month declared it was in a state of war with South Korea.

 

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Pyongyang also threatened to attack the United States with nuclear weapons and sealed off the industrial zone it shares with the South.

 

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Obama administration calculates it's likely North Korea may test fire mobile ballistic missiles at any time, based on the most recent intelligence showing Pyongyang probably has completed launch preparations.

 

CNN quoted a US official as saying a test launch could happen without North Korea issuing a standard notice to commercial aviation and maritime shipping warning them to stay away from the missile's path.

 

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