North Korea may have removed a long-range missile from a launch site, lowering the possibility of the communist regime immediately carrying out further tests, a South Korean official said Friday.
Intelligence reports have said North Korea may have moved two long-range Taepodong-2 missiles to its Musudan-ri launch site on its east coast before test-firing one of them July 5.
Fresh intelligence suggests the remaining missile may have been moved somewhere else, a government official said on condition of anonymity, citing policy. But the intelligence is not conclusive and needs further confirmation, he said.
The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper carried a similar report, citing an anonymous government official, saying satellite images show the missile disappeared from the launch site in mid-July and South Korea and U.S. intelligence authorities were trying to assess the North’s intentions.
North Korea also test-launched six shorter-range missiles, along with the Taepodong-2, drawing strong international condemnation. The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution to denounce the launches and ban countries from missile-related dealings with the North.
North Korea has said it has the right to test missiles and vowed further tests.