WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Satellite images taken this week of North Korea’s Sohae rocket launch site show apparent fuelling activity seen in the past shortly before a rocket launch, a US think-tank said, as US government officials signalled that a launch could occur as early as tomorrow.
North Korea has told UN agencies it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between February 8 and February 25, triggering international opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.
On Friday, US government sources said US intelligence agencies believed North Korea could be ready by the US Super Bowl kickoff today, which will be Monday in Korea. Activity at the site was consistent with a launch in the time frame given by Pyongyang, US officials said.
US Pacific Command said it was closely monitoring the situation and had many missile defense assets in the region that would provide “a robust defence.”
“No one should doubt that US Pacific Command forces are prepared to protect the American homeland and defend our allies in South Korea and Japan,” said Pacific Command spokesman US Air Force Captain Cody Chiles.
Commercial satellite images from Wednesday and Thursday show the arrival of tanker trucks at the launch pad, said Washington-based 38 North, a North Korea-monitoring project. It said the presence of the trucks likely indicated the filling of tanks within bunkers at the site rather than a rocket itself.
“In the past, such activity has occurred one to two weeks prior to a launch event and would be consistent with North Korea’s announced launch window,” the group said.
