U.S. and Japanese authorities have portrayed the situation as a fundamental threat to security. If a launch were to occur, their ideas on how to respond would also likely be out of alignment with South Korea’s.

Over the weekend, the South Korean government has said it cannot conclude that liquid fuel has been injected into the rocket, as U.S. reports claim, nor whether the missile carries a warhead or a satellite. Indeed, authorities here say the fact that the missile launch pad is being put up above ground in full view of the spy satellites makes it more likely that the North aims to launch a satellite.

Seoul therefore believes that the best solution would be for North Korea and the U.S. to take a step back, and is examining what the best way through the situation would be. The U.S. and Japan, meanewhile, are publicly discussing sanctions against the North in the event of a missile test, and even a sea blockade.

The New York Times on Monday quoted an unnamed U.S. government official as saying North Korea appears to have completed fueling a long-range ballistic missile, with satellite intelligence suggesting “that booster rockets had been loaded onto a launch pad, and liquid-fuel tanks fitted to a missile at a site in North Korea's remote east coast."

(englishnews@chosun.com )