North Korea has deployed one or two intermediate-range ballistic missiles on its east coast, possibly preparing for launch on or ahead of the birthday of the country's late founder on Friday.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency - citing multiple South Korean government sources - reported a mobile launcher was spotted carrying up to two Musudan missiles on Thursday following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the next month, which led to fresh UN sanctions.
The Musudan missile, with a design range of more than 3,000km, is not known to have been flight-tested, according to South Korean defence ministry and experts.
Some analysts said North Korea may choose to test-fire the Musudan in the near future as it tries to build an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to put the mainland United States within range.
US intelligence estimates say North Korea's ability to reach the United States is low, but its capabilities will increase, making continued investment in missile defence essential.
South Korea's Defence Ministry spokesman, Moon Sang-gyun, declined to confirm the Yonhap report but said the military had been on high alert for any North Korean missile launch since its leader Kim Jong Un's vow to conduct more tests.
Kim said in March his country would soon test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The United States, which has 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, said it was aware of reports that North Korea was preparing to test intermediate-range missiles and was closely monitoring the Korean peninsula
"We call again on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region," said Pooja Jhunjhunwala, a US State Department spokeswoman
Admiral Bill Gortney, the officer responsible for defending American airspace, told a US Senate hearing on Wednesday that he agreed with a South Korean assessment that North Korea was capable of putting a nuclear warhead on a medium-range missile that would reach all of South Korea and most of Japan.
The United States and South Korea began talks on the possible deployment of a new missile-defence system, the Terminal High Altitude Area defence (THAAD), after the latest North Korea nuclear and rocket tests.
North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and the US, often fires missiles during periods of tension in the region or when it comes under pressure to curb its defiance and abandon its weapons programmes.
South Korean analysts have said North Korea may choose to display a show of force ahead of a major ruling party congress in May, where it is expected to declare itself a nuclear power, or around the April 15 anniversary of the birth of Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung.
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