N Korea assembling long-range missile
North Korea appears to be assembling its most advanced long-range missile and could conduct a test launch this month, a newspaper reported Friday, amid US and South Korean warnings against disturbing regional stability.
The Taepodong-2 missile has recently been moved to the east coast Musudan-ni missile site, but has not yet been seen near the launch pad, the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo reported, citing an unidentified South Korean government official.
"We assume that they are currently assembling the first and second-stage rockets," the newspaper quoted the official as saying.
South Korean and US intelligence authorities believe that the North could test-fire the missile, believed to be capable of reaching the western US, around Feb. 25, the first anniversary of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's inauguration, the paper said.
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