Seoul: Further in its intention to threaten the US mainland, North Korea seems to be gearing up for another powerful, new medium-range missile test, multiple reports said today.
The step is being taken after a series of failures for a ballistic weapons programme.
Media reports coming from Japan and South Korea have quoted official sources as saying that North Korea appeared to have fired a Musudan missile near its east coast.
There have been four failed attempts by the country this year to test fly the so-called missile.
The estimated range of Musudan is anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometres (1,550 to 2,500 miles).
"We have detected signs that the North has deployed what appears to be a Musudan missile," an unidentified government official was quoted as saying.
Japan's Kyodo News agency and public broadcaster NHK have reported citing unidentified sources that there might a missile launch soon by the North Korea.
However, the Defence Ministry in Seoul has denied the reports, but said it was "closely monitoring the situation."
As per UN resolutions, North Korea cannot use any ballistic missile technology, but it anyway regularly fires shaort-range missiles.
(With agencies)
