Signs that NKorea fueling rocket: US official
2 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — There are indications North Korea is fueling a rocket ahead of a planned launch that could come as early as this weekend, a US defense official said on Thursday.
"It looks like they're fueling," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP. "But it's still ambiguous."
North Korea has said it will launch a rocket carrying a satellite between April 4-8 despite charges it is violating a UN resolution.
The United States, Japan and South Korea suspect the launch is a cover for a test of a long-range ballistic missile.
"Everything we've seen so far is consistent with the satellite launch as announced," another US defense official said.
Independent analysts citing commercial satellite pictures have said North Korea has appeared to be moving ahead with launch preparations since March 22.
Weather conditions over the Korean peninsula favored a launch on Saturday, experts said.
Otherwise, the regime might have to postpone the launch until the weather improves towards the end of the launch window around April 8, they said.
The rounded shape of the rocket's nose suggested it was a satellite, as North Korea has announced, and not a dummy warhead, analysts said.
Japan has deployed land- and sea-based defense systems with guided missiles to destroy the rocket, or its debris, if it deviates from its expected course and threatens to fall on Japanese territory.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday that the launch appeared imminent, but that the United States would not shoot the rocket down.
"I think if we had a missile that was heading for Hawaii, that looked like it was headed for Hawaii or something like that, we might consider it. I don't think we have any plans to do anything like that at this point," Gates said.
Top US military officers have said North Korea may launch several other short- or medium-range missiles at the same time as the rocket launch, as it has during previous missile tests. |
