N. Korea could fire another ballistic missile: reports

By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea could be getting ready to conduct another missile test possibly later this week despite the ongoing mood of reconciliation between the two Koreas, according to U.S. media outlets.

CBS News reported Tuesday that the North "appears to be in the early stages of a launch cycle for another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test," saying that the missile activities have been detected at the same location where the last ICBM test took place in November.

"If there is a test, it would likely take place later this week or next," the report said.

During the November test, the North fired a Hwasong-15 ICBM, which flew 960 kilometers in 53 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 4,475 kilometers. Pyongyang at the time claimed it was a new, more powerful ICBM capable of carrying a "super-large heavy warhead" and striking any part of the U.S. mainland.

NBC News also quoted U.S. officials as saying that the regime in Pyongyang could fire a ballistic missile in a few days.

In a Dec. 27 report, CNN reported _ citing multiple U.S. officials _ that there were new signs of Pyongyang preparing to launch a satellite or a ballistic missile.

The news about the North's possible provocations came after leader Kim Jong-un expressed a stronger willingness than ever to improve inter-Korean relations ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 9 to 25.

During his New Year address, Kim said his regime was willing to send a delegation to the Olympics, suggesting a meeting between officials from the two Koreas to discuss the North's possible participation.

The conciliatory gesture toward the South led to Seoul's offer Tuesday to hold high-level talks, Jan. 9.

The U.S. media is paying keen attention to the North's possible military provocations, given that Kim sent a warning message to Washington during his address.

He said all parts of the U.S. mainland were within range of North Korean ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads, stressing, "A nuclear button is always on the desk of my office and this is just a reality, not a threat."

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said harsher measures need to be imposed against the North if it conducts another ballistic missile test.

"As we hear reports that North Korea might be preparing for another missile test, I hope that doesn't happen. But if it does, we must bring even tougher measures to bear on the North Korean regime," she said during a news conference at U.N. headquarters in New York.