North Korea has moved a missile with “considerable range” to its east coast, South Korea’s defence minister said, adding that there are no signs Pyongyang is preparing for a full-scale conflict.
The report came hours after North Korea’s military warned it has been authorised to attack the US using “smaller, lighter and diversified” nuclear weapons.
It was the North’s latest war cry against America. The reference to smaller weapons could be a claim that Pyongyang has improved its nuclear technology, or it could be a bluff.
South Korean defence minister Kim Kwan-jin said he did not know the reasons behind the North’s missile movement, and that it “could be for testing or drills”.
He dismissed reports in Japanese media that the missile could be a KN-08, which is believed to be a long-range rocket that if operable could hit the United States.
Mr Kim said the missile has “considerable range”, but not enough to hit the US mainland. The range he described could refer to a mobile North Korean missile known as the Musudan, believed to have a range of 1,800 miles.
The Pentagon announced it will deploy a missile defence system to the US Pacific territory of Guam to strengthen regional protection against a possible attack.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said Washington is doing all it can to defuse the situation, while South Korea said its military is ready to deal with any provocation.