North Korea prepares long-range missile launch from its west coast

North Korea has moved a missile believed to have the capability of reaching Alaska to a west coast launch pad, after warning the UN Security Council that it would take defensive action if provoked, reports indicated Monday.

The missile was sent by train from the Pyongyang area to a newly completed missile facility in Dongchang-no, about 60 kilometres from the Chinese border, South Korea's state news agency, Yonhap, reported on Monday.

North Korea has never launched a long-range missile from the northwestern base before.

Kim Tae-woo, vice-president of Seoul's state-run Korea Institute for Defence Analyses, said he thinks the North chose the site because of its proximity to China, making it more risky for the U.S. to strike.

The missile being prepared for launch is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of up to 6,500 kilometres, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported, citing an unnamed South Korean official. That would put Alaska within striking range.

Launch by mid-June

Government officials said the missile could be ready to launch within two weeks.

The South Korea media reported the North may be planning a launch for about June 16 when South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates told a press conference in the Philippines on Monday that intelligence indicates the North is working on a long-range missile, but it's not clear what its intentions are.

Analysts said the movement of the missile and its possible launch could be the North following up on its warning that it would take "self-defence measures" if the UN Security Council "makes a further provocation."

The warning, which was issued on Friday, did not specify what sort of defensive response would be taken or what would be considered a provocation.

But analysts have said the country is likely considering launching another intercontinental missile.

Security Council considering sanctions

The North also again on Monday said that it is being provoked by South Korea and the United States, saying that the number of spy planes operating in its airspace has risen dramatically.

The Security Council is considering imposing new sanctions against North Korea after it carried out an underground nuclear test last week and then fired several missiles off its coast.

North Korea faced international criticism after it launched a long-range missile on April 5.

The North claimed the test launch was part of its development of its space program, but other nations alleged it was a test of long-range missile technology.

That modified version of the Taepodong-2 rocket flew about 3,200 kilometres, crossing over Japan before crashing into the Pacific Ocean.

"The launch of what North Korea called a satellite in April failed to show inter-continental capabilities, so they want to show it this time around," said Kim Tae-woo, a weapons expert at the Korea Institute for Defence Analysis, told Reuters.

South Korea will not tolerate any provocation from the North, Lee said at a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders.

"I want to make clear that there won't be any compromise on things that threaten our nation's security," he said.

North Korea is reportedly conducting amphibious assault exercises along its western shore where its navy has previously clashed with South Korea and has designated a large area off the coast as a "no-sail" zone until the end of June.