North Korean missile faces South Korea, Japan: Report

North Korea has moved a medium-range missile, which could hit targets in South Korea and Japan, to its east coast, a report says.

The South Korean Yonhap news agency said on Thursday that Pyongyang’s move was detected by the US and South Korean intelligence.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said the missile could reach a “considerable distance” but that it was not capable of reaching the US mainland. “It could be aimed at test-firing or military drills.”

The missile is reportedly a Musudan and is believed to have an intended range of about 3,000 kilometers. Reports said the missile faced Japan.

Intelligence sources said North Korea might fire the missile around the middle of April, when people celebrate the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, according to Yonhap.

Japan says it will respond to any North Korean attack immediately and it is bracing for a “worst-case scenario.”

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Jay Carney has said that Washington is taking “all necessary precautions” to respond to Pyongyang’s missile threat.

The Pentagon said on Wednesday that it would deploy an advanced anti-missile system to the Pacific island of Guam to protect the US military bases and the 6,000 American military personnel there.

The anti-missile system includes a truck-mounted launcher, a complement of interceptor missiles, an AN/TPY-2 tracking radar and an integrated fire control system.

On Thursday, North Korea said a preemptive nuclear war with the United States “could break out today or tomorrow.”

“The moment of explosion is approaching fast… The US had better ponder over the prevailing grave situation,” said the General Staff of the North Korean People’s Army (KPA).

Earlier in the day, the North Korean army said it had received final approval for a nuclear attack on the US in response to Washington’s threats.