A senior official in Seoul said U.S. spy satellites have captured images of large trailers at missile platforms in the Hwadae-gun area of North Hamgyeong Province transporting large objects that are thought to be parts of a Taepodong-II missile. Experts estimate that the missiles have a firing range of 10,000-15,000 km, which would put Alaska in its radius, given the 30 m length of the objects.

In preparation for the possible launch, U.S. authorities are increasing sorties of U-2 and RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft in the region.

The government says it is likely that North Korea is moving the missiles around to send a message to Washington that the country is not going to cave in over U.S. financial sanctions. But any test launch would be a major setback in Pyongyang’s relations with the U.S. and Japan, which is why the South is doing everything it can to urge the North to desist.

Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso confirmed Japanese press reports of the activities in the North saying his government had known about them for a long time. But he said North Korea has yet to start injecting liquid fuel.

He said if the activities are indeed preparations for a missile launch, it would constitute a violation of a 2002 Pyongyang Declaration by the two countries, where Kim Jong-il pledged to defer test-firing of missiles.

(englishnews@chosun.com )