(LEAD) N. Korea showing signs of mobile ballistic missile launch: CNN

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By Chang Jae-soon

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is showing signs of preparations to conduct its first launch of a mobile ballistic missile that could potentially reach part of the United States, CNN reported Tuesday, citing U.S. officials.

U.S. intelligence satellites have picked up such indications, and the potential launch is most likely to involve the medium-range Musudan missile, feared to be capable of reaching Guam as well as Shemya Island in the outer reaches of Alaska's Aleutian chain, the report said.

But the North could attempt to test the longer-range, road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile KN-08 or its advanced version, KN-14, which are believed to be capable of reaching the west coast of the continental U.S., the report said.

Officials cautioned, however, that the North may not go ahead with a launch, adding that Pyongyang is well aware U.S. spy satellites keep constant watch on it, and such preparations could be part of the North's attempts to deceive the U.S., according to the report.

Comment from the U.S. Defense Department was not immediately available.

The report came amid heightened concern that Pyongyang could undertake yet another provocation, such as a nuclear test and a long-range missile launch, to mark Saturday's birthday of founding leader Kim Il-sung, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un.

Such a launch, if carried out, would mark the first time that the North has tested a mobile ballistic missile. The communist nation has displayed the KN-08 and other mobile missiles in military parades in recent years, but has never test-launched them.

U.S. officials have voiced strong concerns about the North's mobile missiles, especially the KN-08, as they can be fired from mobile launchers and are harder to keep an eye on. The U.S. has steadily strengthened its missile defense system to guard against such threats.

The North has advanced ballistic missile technologies, and succeeded in putting satellites into orbit aboard long-range rockets twice, first in 2012 and again in February this year. Experts say long-range rockets and ICBMs are basically the same with differences only in payloads.

Last week, the North claimed that it successfully carried out a ground test of a powerful ICBM engine, with leader Kim saying that the test "provided a firm guarantee for mounting another form of nuclear attack upon the U.S. imperialists."

After analyzing images of the test, U.S. missile expert John Schilling said the test demonstrated Pyongyang is capable of building road-mobile, long-range missiles that can deliver nuclear warheads as far as Washington and New York.

In recent months, Pyongyang has also made a series of claims of breakthroughs in its nuclear and missile programs, including miniaturizing nuclear warheads to fit on an ICBM, mastering missile atmospheric re-entry technology and developing a solid-fuel rocket engine.

These claims came as Pyongyang has been trying to assert the leadership of Kim in the run-up to a rare meeting of the ruling Workers' Party set for May.

jschang@yna.co.kr
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