North Korea is preparing to unveil a long-range missile that is capable of striking targets in the United States.
Reconnaissance satellites have identified the huge missile at a government research and development facility in Pyongyang, South Korean government sources told the newspaper Chosun Ilbo. Analysts estimate the weapon to be 130ft long and equipped with a more powerful booster unit, capable of delivering a warhead more than 6,200 miles.
Pyongyang had already raised tensions with the announcement of its plan to launch a rocket this month to put a satellite into orbit.
Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believe the launch is actually a covert test of a missile. Intelligence suggests that this rocket, which is being prepared for launch at the new Tongchang-ri aerospace facility in the far north-west, is 105ft long, identical in length to the Taepodong-2 missile fired in April 2009.
With a range of 4,163 miles, the Taepodong-2 was the most potent missile in the North Korean armoury.
South Korean and US officials believe Pyongyang wants to show off the new bigger missile at a military parade on April 15 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the founder of the nation, or on April 25, which marks the founding of the North Korean army.
Official sources said they were unable to determine whether the weapon was functional or "a life-size mock-up".
Tokyo is taking seriously the threat posed by the planned rocket launch, between April 12 and 16. It is sending 450 troops to the southern island of Ishigaki to man interceptor missiles.
The Japanese government has stated that it will shoot down the rocket if it threatens Japanese territory.
Tokyo is deploying state-of-the-art Aegis warships in the East China Sea to monitor the launch.
