Following its unsuccessful attempt to fire a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile earlier this month, North Korea is believed to be readying for another launch.
 
A South Korean government official said Pyongyang test-fired one of two Musudan missiles on April 15th, the birthday of its late founder Kim Il-sung. While the launch was assessed as a failure, the official said the other one is standing by on a launch pad, ready to be fired.
 
Another official said that military authorities are closely monitoring the North’s moves amid signs indicating an impending missile launch by the regime.
 
South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities previously concluded that the Musudan missile on April 15th might have exploded up in the air, as it disappeared from radar several seconds after its launch at around 5:30 a.m. from Wonsan in Gangwon Province.
 
Meanwhile, the movement of workers continues to be picked up at North Korea’s nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province. A South Korean military official said that troops remain prepared for a possible surprise nuclear test by the North.