South Koreans watch a TV news program with a file footage about North Korea’s rocket launch plans, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. South Korea warned on Wednesday of “searing” consequences if North Korea doesn’t abandon plans to launch a long-range rocket that critics call a banned test of ballistic missile technology. The headline on the screen reads “North Korea plans to launch a missile.” AP File Photo
TOKYO, Japan—North Korea may be preparing a ballistic missile launch from a base on its east coast in addition to its announced plans to fire a space rocket, Japan’s public broadcaster reported Thursday.
Pyongyang’s announcement Tuesday of its rocket plan was greeted by a global chorus of anger and concern, with sharp criticism from South Korea, Japan and the United States, already angry over the North’s fourth underground nuclear test early last month.
READ: Anger, sanctions threats greet N. Korea rocket launch plans
China, which dispatched a top official to North Korea this week, echoed the international concerns while Japan has vowed to shoot down any missile that threatened its territory.
Japan’s NHK television, citing diplomatic sources it did not identify, reported that it has been “confirmed that a mobile launch pad in North Korea’s eastern coastal area was on the move.”
As a ballistic missile is on the launch pad, it is possible that Pyongyang is preparing a launch there, the report added.
READ: US official says activity detected at North Korean launch site
NHK did not say whether it was a long- or short-range missile.
The North said it plans to launch a rocket from its Dongchang-ri base in the country’s northwest between February 8 and 25.
Countries opposed to the launch and independent experts say it is nothing more than a disguised long-range ballistic missile launch aimed at helping Pyongyang to improve its capability and eventually achieve the ability to place a nuclear warhead on a rocket.
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