Fears As North Korea Prepares Rocket Launch

There are fears that North Korea could be preparing to test-fire a long-range missile that may be able to reach America's west coast. Skip related content

It comes after Pyongyang said it was gearing up to launch a satellite on one of its rockets.

Intelligence officials have reported brisk personnel and vehicle activity at the Hwadae launch site.

North Korea's longest-range missile, the Taepodong-2, has the potential to reach Alaska.

But reports suggest the missile being prepared for launch may be an advanced version of the Taepodong-2 that could reach the US west coast.

North Korea has only once tested the Taepodong-2, in 2006, when it flew for a few seconds and then exploded.

Pyongyang said: "The preparations for launching experimental communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 by means of delivery rocket Unha-2 are now making brisk headway."

It recently said it bears the right to "space development" - words the regime has used in the past to disguise a missile test.

In 1998, it test-fired a Taepodong-1 ballistic missile over Japan and then claimed to have put a satellite into orbit. More