The United States has warned North Korea against conducting a "provocative" intercontinental missile test after US officials said there were signs a test could take place as early as this weekend.
A test would be Pyongyang's first launch of a long-range missile since it stunned the world in August 1998 by firing a Taepodong 1 over Japan that landed in the Pacific Ocean.
"Such a launch would be a provocative act and we would instead urge them to focus their energies and their activities on returning to the six-party talks," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. He was referring to talks on curbing Pyongyang's nuclear program involving the United States, China, Russia, North and South Korea and Japan.
The launch - expected to involve a Taepodong 2 missile with an estimated range of 3,500 to 4,300 km - could come as early as this weekend, US officials said.
They said it seemed increasingly likely Pyongyang would go through with the test - rather than just making preparations to get US and international attention - but that it could still decide to cancel a launch.
American and Japanese "assets" - including satellites and a U.S. guided missile ship - have been moved into position to serve as long-range surveillance and tracking platforms.
The United States and its allies were caught off guard when Pyongyang last tested eight years ago and they are determined this time to be ready to gather critical intelligence on the North's capabilities.